On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that India would now use the water that had previously flowed out of the country, asserting it was India’s rightful share. His comments followed the government's move to suspend the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan after the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. At the ABP Network India@2047 Summit, he emphasised the government's focus on protecting the nation’s water resources and boosting farm output through river-linking projects.

He said, “These days, there is a lot of discussion in the media about water. Pehle Bharat ke haq ka paani bhi bahar ja raha tha… ab Bharat ka paani, Bharat ke haq mein bahega, Bharat ke haq mein rukega aur Bharat ke hi kaam aayega,” meaning that earlier, water that rightfully belonged to India was flowing out, but now it will flow within the country, be retained here, and serve India’s needs.

In response to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 25 Indians and one Nepali dead, India has taken a tough stance, including suspending the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, to send a strong message to Pakistan over its continued support for cross-border terrorism. The government has pledged firm action against those responsible. The treaty divides the rivers between the two nations, with Pakistan receiving the bulk of the water from the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, while India uses the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. Although each country is allowed limited access to the other’s rivers, India currently utilises only about 20% of the Indus system’s waters, while Pakistan benefits from the remaining 80%. Prime Minister Modi, referencing the government’s initiatives to tackle water shortages and boost irrigation, pointed to key river-linking projects underway. “For decades, the water of our rivers has been a subject of conflict. Now, in coordination with state governments, we have launched large-scale projects to link rivers. The Ken-Betwa and Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal link projects will benefit millions of farmers,” he stated.

The Prime Minister highlighted how India’s banking sector has evolved significantly over the past ten years. “Before 2014, the banking system was on the verge of collapse. Today, it is one of the strongest globally. Banks are registering record profits, and depositors are benefiting. This turnaround is the result of significant reforms, including the strategic merger of several smaller banks,” PM Modi expressed.

He also spoke about the long-delayed One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme, reaffirming the government's dedication to supporting the well-being of retired military personnel. “For decades, OROP was dismissed on financial grounds. We made it a reality. So far, over ₹1.25 lakh crore has been disbursed, benefiting lakhs of former soldiers and their families,” he expressed.

Prime Minister Modi stressed that 25 crore people in India have been lifted from poverty over the past decade. He also noted that initiatives like the Mudra Yojana have supported small business owners and proven that democracy can bring about meaningful change.