The political temperature in Jammu and Kashmir soared on Friday as a fierce social media face-off erupted between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and former CM Mehbooba Mufti, with both leaders accusing each other of exploiting the sensitive Indo-Pak conflict for political mileage.
The latest controversy centers around the Tulbul Navigation Project at Wular Lake in Bandipora, long suspended due to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan. In a post on social platform X, CM Omar Abdullah shared an aerial video of the lake and questioned whether the project could resume now that the IWT has been “temporarily suspended.”
"Work on the project began in the early 1980s but had to be abandoned due to Pakistan’s objections under IWT. Now that the treaty is on hold, maybe it’s time to revive it," Abdullah wrote.
Mehbooba Calls Remarks "Provocative and Dangerous"
Reacting sharply, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti accused Omar of making “dangerously provocative” statements that could worsen already-tense Indo-Pak relations.
“CM Omar’s remarks are provocatory and ill-timed. To speak of reviving Tulbul amid current hostilities with Pakistan is not just reckless but betrays a blind lust for political points,” Mehbooba wrote on X.
She added that such remarks could jeopardize peace efforts and escalate regional instability, questioning Omar’s “sense of timing and responsibility.”
Omar Strikes Back, Drags in Political Lineage
Omar Abdullah did not hold back in his response, launching a scathing attack on Mehbooba by invoking both their political legacies.
“The daughter of a man who once shook hands with militants now questions our national interests? Spare us the lectures,” he retorted, referring to Mehbooba’s late father and PDP founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
He further added, “This isn’t about scoring points. It’s about reclaiming what’s rightfully ours. That project was for the people of Kashmir, shelved only because we caved to pressure.”
Political Families, Old Rivalries
This exchange marks yet another chapter in the long-standing rivalry between the Abdullah and Mufti families, two dynastic pillars of J&K politics. As the region navigates the fallout from recent Indo-Pak military operations and a ceasefire agreement signed on May 10, local leaders are under scrutiny for their posturing and public statements.
The Tulbul Navigation Project, aimed at regulating water flow from Wular Lake to the Jhelum River, has historically been a flashpoint in Indo-Pak water disputes under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty brokered by the World Bank. Pakistan claims the project violates the treaty’s terms, while India maintains it is within legal and environmental bounds.
Analysts Warn of Political Opportunism
Political observers have cautioned that both leaders may be leveraging public sentiments during a time of national tension for electoral or legacy gains.
“This is textbook Kashmir politics—nationalism vs autonomy, progress vs provocation. But such rhetoric in volatile times can backfire,” said a Srinagar-based political analyst.
Conclusion
As J&K braces for the next phase of Indo-Pak diplomatic relations, the verbal duel between Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti highlights the fragile balance between regional politics and international diplomacy. Whether the Tulbul project will resume or remain a talking point depends not only on the central government’s strategic direction but also on how local leaders manage their words and their weight.