Patna, August 22: Lalu Prasad Yadav, the national president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has launched a sharp attack on Sanjay Kumar Jha, the acting national president of the Janata Dal (United), regarding comments made about the Farakka water treaty. Without naming Jha, Yadav referred to him as a “novice,” asserting that those discussing the Farakka Barrage lack knowledge of its history and geography.
In a post on the social media platform ‘X’ on Saturday, Yadav stated that the RJD has consistently opposed the Farakka Barrage at every level, from Parliament to the state government. He claimed that his foresight had already identified the serious risks and damages that the Farakka Barrage, built on the Ganges River in West Bengal, could pose to Bihar.
Yadav further criticized Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, stating that he has never uttered a word in Parliament regarding the Farakka Barrage. He accused Kumar of prioritizing short-term political gains over long-term issues throughout his political career.
He advised Kumar’s political allies to first visit Bihar’s Water Resources Department to study the current water availability in the Ganges, the implications of the international treaty with Bangladesh, and the efforts made by the previous state government.
Yadav also suggested that they review documents available in the Water Resources Department and the correspondence between former Irrigation Minister Jagdanand Singh and the central government.
The Farakka water treaty, signed between India and Bangladesh in 1996, is set to expire in December 2026. This has once again brought the issue of Bihar’s water security to the forefront of political debate.
On August 20, Sanjay Kumar Jha published an article demanding that the central government not renew the Farakka treaty in its current form. He stated that Bihar’s interests were overlooked at the time of the agreement in 1996, and that three decades of experience and data demonstrate its adverse effects. Jha emphasized the need for a scientific assessment of the water requirements of all states in the Ganges basin, including Bihar, until 2050, and called for a new arrangement post-treaty expiration.
By linking the Farakka agreement to Bihar’s long-term water interests, Jha has initiated a political debate with Yadav that is expected to intensify in the coming days.
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