Minister turns down ‘welcome’ bouquets at event: ‘Till Pahalgam is avenged…’

Jal Shakti minister Cr Paatil had earlier as well backed India's move against Pakistan, to suspend Indus Waters Treaty.

Updated on: May 4, 2025, 08:29:51 IST

By HT News Desk

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Union Jal Shakti minister CR Paatil on Saturday turned down welcome bouquets at an event in Gujarat, saying he won't accept any "welcome" till the Pahalgam terror attack is avenged.

Union minister of Jal Shakti CR Paatil was attending the 7th Global Investor Conference in Gujarat's Surat city. (Keshav Singh/HT/File)

Arriving at an investors' conference in Gujarat's Surat, Paatil politely turned down bouquets and mementoes. Paatil's decision was announced by an organiser who said that the minister "decided that he would not be welcomed with bouquets or mementoes until Pahalgam is avenged", triggering applause from the audience.

"No welcome, till there is revenge," Paatil later said in Gujarati.

ALSO READ | ‘Won’t allow a single drop of water into Pakistan’: Jal Shakti minister CR Paatil

Paatil has been stern about his stance on the terror attack in Pahalgam and Pakistan's role in it.

Following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as part of India's action against Pakistan, the union minister had said that New Delhi won't allow a "single drop" of water to flow into Islamabad.

On April 22, terrorists gunned down 26 people, mostly tourists, in Baisaran meadow near Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

ALSO READ | Pahalgam attack aftermath: India bans Pakistani ships from ports

India-Pakistan tensions

India took several actions against Pakistan in the aftermath of the terror attack, including closing the integrated check post at Attari, revoking all Pakistanis' visas and reducing the overall strength of Pakistan's high commissions.

On Saturday, India banned the direct or indirect import of all goods from Pakistan with immediate effect.

India suspended the exchange of all categories of mail and parcels from Pakistan through air and surface routes. New Delhi also placed a ban on Pakistan-flagged ships from entering Indian ports and prohibited Indian-flagged vessels from visiting ports in Pakistan.

What Paatil said at the event

Paatil, at the 7th Global Investor Conference in Surat, said there was a meaningful dialogue on matters such as entrepreneurship, investment, and innovation regarding the future of India.

“...Under the leadership of Honourable Shri Narendrabhai Modi Sir, the vision of a ‘Developed India’ is rapidly becoming a reality. Today’s India is not just a consumer but is emerging as a global leader in investment,” he said in a post on X.

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HT News Desk
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