Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have criticized People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti for cancelling her election campaign in solidarity with the people of Lebanon and Gaza, calling it a “political stunt.” Mehbooba Mufti announced her decision on X (formerly Twitter), stating that she stands with the martyrs of Lebanon and Gaza, specifically naming Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, amidst the ongoing conflict in the region.
Reacting to her decision, BJP leader Kavinder Gupta, who served as her deputy during the PDP-BJP coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir, accused Mufti of showing selective concern. Gupta stated, “Mehbooba Mufti is pained by the death of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, but when Hindus were being killed in Bangladesh, she remained silent. These are crocodile tears, nothing but fake sympathy.”
Altaf Thakur, another BJP leader from Kashmir, also condemned Mufti’s actions, saying that while wars should be avoided and peace is essential, Mufti’s move was an attempt to appeal to religious sentiment for political gain. He stated that her decision was a tactic to garner support from the Muslim community and called it an “election stunt.”
