JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha says Ganga water pact renewal hurts Bihar
Argument
JD(U) national working president Sanjay Jha has argued against renewing the 1996 India-Bangladesh Ganga Water Treaty, saying the arrangement has hurt Bihar’s interests over the past 30 years. He said the state’s concerns should be weighed alongside any diplomatic need to settle the dispute between India and Bangladesh.
Assessment
Jha’s criticism is rooted in Bihar’s water politics, but the article itself does not test his claim against the treaty data or show how the state has been affected in measurable terms. What it does make clear is that the renewal issue is now tied not just to bilateral relations, but also to domestic political pressure inside India.
Key Uncertainty
The Ministry of External Affairs had not responded to queries about Jha’s remarks, so the government’s current position on renewal is not stated here.
The treaty expires on December 31, 2026, and the last round of talks on renewal has not yet taken place, leaving the outcome open.