The situation remained volatile in several parts of Kashmir after sporadic protests broke out over the killing of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli air strike in Lebanon.
People took to the streets in Srinagar and Budgam to condemn Nasrallah’s death, chanting anti-Israel and anti-US slogans.
Political leaders Mehbooba Mufti, National Conference Member Parliament from Srinagar Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and Shia leader and former cabinet Minister Imran Reza Ansari also suspended election campaigns to condole the killing. The gesture, however, triggered sharp reactions.
Reacting strongly to the developments the BJP on Sunday lashed out at PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti for “shedding crocodile tears” and indulging in “vote bank politics” after the former Chief Minister cancelled her poll campaign over the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Vice President of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Omar Abdullah condemned the actions of Israel and called for world support to end the ongoing massacre of innocent people in Gaza and Lebanon.
Another Shia leader and former Minister Imran Reza Ansari labelled him as a ‘Lion’. Ansari posted a message on X, “A lion has fallen, his roar remains. In every heartbeat his struggle sustains. I am suspending all campaigning activities to honour the supreme sacrifice made by Shaheed Sayed Hassan Nasrallah”.
Meanwhile, the security forces deployed on ground zero have been asked to exercise utmost restraint to prevent any flare-up ahead of the third and final round of polling on October 1.
Labelling her as “pro-militant”, BJP national spokesperson RP Singh said, “By cancelling her campaigning, she has shown she is shedding tears over the death of terrorists. It is her habit to call terrorists martyrs. She had similarly wept for Burhan Wani some time back.”
However, she is not alone in expressing solidarity with terrorists, he said.
“Sonia Gandhi too shed tears for the terrorists killed in Batla House. All leaders of the INDIA alliance do this for vote bank politics. For them, the country doesn’t come first. She is doing this for the vote bank,” he charged.
Former deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta also condemned Mehbooba’s stance, asking, “What problem does Mehbooba Mufti have with the death of terrorist Nasrallah? When Hindus are killed in Bangladesh and Pakistan, there is a grave silence from them.”
