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The killing of Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike has ignited a political firestorm, with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti facing backlash for calling off her election campaign in solidarity with the “martyr”.
Mufti’s decision came after Nasrallah was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday night, Mufti wrote, “Cancelling my campaign tomorrow (Sunday) in solidarity with the martyrs of Lebanon & Gaza, especially Hassan Nasrallah. We stand with the people of Palestine & Lebanon in this hour of immense grief & exemplary resistance. (sic)”
Her remarks drew sharp criticism from the BJP, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma leading the charge. Speaking at an election rally in Haryana’s Sonipat on Sunday, Sarma accused the opposition INDIA bloc, of which the PDP is a part, of prioritising foreign issues over Indian lives.
“Right now, there is a war going on between Israel and Palestine. The Israeli army killed Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah. That is their country’s business. But today, in Kashmir, Mehbooba Mufti says she will not campaign because she is sad that Hasan Nasrallah has been killed. I want to ask Mehbooba, Farooq Abdullah, and Rahul Gandhi: When terrorists kill Hindu soldiers, do you feel sad or not?” Sarma said.
BJP national spokesperson RP Singh also hit out at Mufti, labelling her “pro-militant”. “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,” Singh said.
“Sonia Gandhi too shed tears for the terrorists killed in Batla House. All leaders of the INDIA alliance do this for votebank politics,” he alleged.
Senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta accused Mufti of shedding “crocodile tears” for terrorists.
“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,” he said.
Iltija Mufti, the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister’s daughter, defended her mother’s decision, citing the Hezbollah leader’s efforts to stand against what she described as the oppression of Palestinians.
“Our hearts are heavy. Mr Nasrallah fought for the people of Gaza, raised his voice against their oppression when he is not even from there. People should have the right to protest. They want to protest against the Israeli policy of genocide. Why do you have a problem with that?” Iltija said.
Protests erupted in Kashmir over Nasrallah’s killing, with demonstrators in Srinagar and Budgam waving black flags and raising anti-Israel and anti-US slogans.
In response to Mufti’s solidarity with Nasrallah, the Bajrang Dal announced it would stage protests against the PDP chief, accusing her of aligning with anti-India forces.
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