Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Paatil on Monday challenged Pakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari over his incendiary remark that “rivers of blood would flow if water is stopped,” daring him to come to India if he truly has the courage.
Paatil’s sharp response came after Bilawal, reacting to India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, warned that halting the water flow would trigger bloodshed. Speaking at an event in Surat on Sunday, Paatil recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis that “water is strength” and reiterated Modi’s stand that Pakistan should no longer receive water under the treaty.
“Bilawal got enraged and said that if the water is stopped, rivers of blood would flow in India,” Paatil said. “But will we be intimidated? I tell him — brother, if you have even a little courage, come here. Instead of reacting to such threats, our focus must be on conserving water,” the BJP leader asserted.
Bilawal Bhutto’s Provocative Statement
Addressing protesters in Sukkur, Sindh province on Friday, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari declared that the Indus River rightfully belongs to Pakistan and will remain under its control. Amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack, Bilawal warned that any attempt to block water would result in “Indian blood flowing” instead of water.
“دریائے سندھ ہمارا ہے اور ہمارا ہی رہے گا، اِس دریا سے ہمارا پانی بہے گا یا اُن کا خون بہے گا۔@BBhuttoZardari
#ThanksBBZ pic.twitter.com/LfNVVW9TnT— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) April 25, 2025
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman further alleged that India was blaming Pakistan for the attack to mask its internal failures. Accusing Prime Minister Modi of making false claims, Bilawal emphasized that while Modi speaks of India’s ancient civilization, its true roots lie in Mohenjo-daro, located in Larkana, Pakistan. “We are the true custodians of that civilization, and we will defend it,” he said, according to The News.
The Indian government has not issued an official response to Bilawal’s comments.
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India suspends Indus Water Treaty
In response to Pakistan’s alleged continued support for cross-border terrorism, India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), signed in 1960 under World Bank mediation. The treaty, a critical water-sharing agreement, governs the use of the Indus River system — comprising the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers.
Under the treaty, the eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi) were allocated to India, while the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) were primarily reserved for Pakistan. The Kabul River, a right-bank tributary of the Indus, is not covered by the treaty as it does not flow through Indian territory.
India’s suspension of the treaty marks a major escalation in bilateral tensions following the deadly Pahalgam attack.
