Nishikant Dubey Cites Indus Waters Treaty Clause to Support Claim of Nehru’s ₹14,000 Cr ‘Gift’ to Pakistan

BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey renewed flak for the Gandhi family alleging that they have put Pakistan's interests ahead of India's under the umbrella of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

Tweeting from X, Dubey highlighted India's expenditure outflow to Pakistan under the treaty, suggesting that India was weakened in its bargaining position by allowing such clauses by the Congress-led leadership.

In his blog, Dubey penned the following in Hindi (English translation): "The Gandhi family nourished the snake named Pakistan with water and blood for 77 years.". But go through this document attentively— in exchange for aggression against Indian lives, the symbol of the Congress, Prime Minister Nehru, not only surrendered 80 per cent of India's water under the Indus Waters Treaty but also handed over to Pakistan what amounts to about Rs 14,000 crore today for constructing dams and canals. Sell the nation, fatten up Pakistan by giving it water, and die from taking bullets and abuses—such is the India the Gandhi family built.

In support of his argument, Dubey quoted a passage from the treaty—Article V, to be precise, which outlines the financial details of the deal. India agreed under this section to pay £62.06 million to Pakistan for helping to develop substitute infrastructure in the form of canals and dams on its side of the Indus Basin. The payments were to be made in 10 equal annual instalments and were unconditional—regardless of political tension or hostilities.

The 1960 treaty demarcated water rights between the two countries: Pakistan received the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—while India was left with rights on the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. However, in spite of this demarcation, India's financial assistance went into constructing infrastructure that would make Pakistan utilize its share in a more effective manner.

Dubey's criticism is based on this particular clause. He questioned the rationale for granting such a financial aid to a bordering country which has been consistently alleged to fund cross-border terrorism and destabilise India's internal security.

In April 2025, after a fatal terror attack in Pahalgam, India officially suspended its engagement in the treaty on the grounds of serious national security interests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India would no longer let Pakistan enjoy water resources that are within India's entitlements, a sharp policy reversal.

Notwithstanding the suspension, the previous financial obligations under Article V remain a point of political and public controversy. Critics' opinion is that these payments were disproportionate and ill-judged, particularly taking into account the prolonged tension and hostilities between the two countries.