Union minister’s challenge to Pakistan’s Bilawal Bhutto ‘blood’ remark: ‘Come to India if you have courage’

Union Jal Shakti minister CR Paatil on Monday challenged Pakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari over his “blood would flow in rivers if water is stopped” comment, daring him to come to India if he truly has the courage.

Paatil’s response came after the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader made provocative statements following India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.

“Modiji says ‘jal hai to bal hai’ (water is strength). Modi sahab has stated that Pakistan should not receive water under the Indus Water Treaty. Bilawal got furious and said if water is stopped, a river of blood will flow in India,” Paatil said during a function in Surat on Sunday.

“Will we be scared? I tell him (Bhutto) that brother, if you have even a little courage, then come here. Without worrying about such bravado, it is our responsibility to save water,” the BJP leader added.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, speaking to demonstrators in Sukkur, Sindh on Friday, asserted that the Indus River is under the authority of Islamabad and will stay that way. With escalating tensions between India and Pakistan regarding the Pahalgam terror attack, Zardari cautioned that halting the water supply would result in “Indian blood flowing” instead.

The Pakistan People’s Party chairman said that India blamed Islamabad for the attack to cover its “own weaknesses and deceive its people”. He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making false allegations and highlighted the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.

“The Indus is ours and will remain ours – either our water will flow through it, or their blood,” Zardari was quoted as saying by The News. He also noted that while Modi claims India is the heir to an ancient civilisation, “But that civilisation lies in Mohenjo-daro, in Larkana. We are its true custodians, and we will defend it.”

The Indian government did not immediately respond to Zardari’s remarks.