A day after the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah warned Pakistan of very severe results. He said that Pakistan would have to halt these activities if they wanted good relations with India. 

A group of terrorists attacked a tunnel construction site on Srinagar-Leh national highway in the Ganderbal district on Sunday, killing a doctor and six labourers. Condemning the terror attack, Farooq Abdullah asked Pakistan to stop terrorism in India, adding that Kashmir will not be Pakistan. He continued that the countries should live with dignity and succeed. The National Conference President further questioned how the countries would hold talks if Pakistan killed India’s innocent people.

Farooq Abdullah further expressed that the attack was very unfortunate. He questioned what will the terrorists get from the attack, and whether they think they will be able to create Pakistan in Kashmir. He asserted that they are trying to put an end to this so that they can move on from the misery. The National Conference party recently formed the government in the Union Territory.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also described the terror attack as a despicable act of cowardice. He said that those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces. He also extended his sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Sunday termed the attack dastardly and cowardly. In a social media post, the Chief Minister said that the dastardly and cowardly on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region is very sad. He added that the labourers were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. 

He stated that two people have been killed and 2-3 more have been injured in this militant attack. He also strongly condemned this attack on unarmed innocent people and sent his condolences to their loved ones.

Meanwhile, a National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reached Kashmir to investigate the terror attack. Reports said, a Superintendent of Police rank officer will lead the NIA team.

Nearly, two terrorists carried out the dastardly attack. Two labourers died instantly, while three others and a doctor later succumbed to their injuries. Officials also said that five individuals are currently receiving treatment for their injuries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed previous governments for their neglect of eastern Uttar Pradesh, stating that while Kashi has traditionally been known as a centre of religion and spirituality, it is now poised to become a prominent centre for healthcare.

While inaugurating the RJ Sankara Eye Hospital in his Varanasi constituency, he expressed his joy at returning to the city by reciting the Sanskrit phrase “Tamaso ma jyotirgamay” (lead me from darkness to light). He emphasised that Kashi is not only retaining its spiritual identity but is also developing top-tier health facilities.

“For a long time, Kashi’s identity has been that of a centre of religion and spirituality but now, it is also set to emerge as a big centre of healthcare with various top-of-the-line health treatment facilities now available in Varanasi,” the prime minister said.

Modi highlighted that in the past decade, 250 million people have lifted themselves out of poverty, prompting his government to focus on public health. After touring the newly opened eye hospital, he described it as a harmonious blend of spirituality and modernity, set to serve both the elderly and children.

“I have just come back after seeing this eye hospital, it is a blend of spirituality and modernity. This hospital will serve the elderly as well as children,” Modi said.

The RJ Sankara Eye Hospital is operated by the Kanchi Math and is the 14th institution of its kind in India. Before the inauguration, Modi paid his respects to the Shankaracharya of Kanchi and the statue of the former Shankaracharya.

The hospital is expected to benefit residents from 20 districts across eastern Uttar Pradesh and those in border areas of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

During his day-long visit to Varanasi, Modi will also roll out various development initiatives, including a series of airport projects totalling over Rs 6,700 crore. This visit marks his first return to Varanasi since June 18.

Additionally, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he will lay the foundation stone for airport runway expansion and a new terminal at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, with an estimated cost of around Rs 2,870 crore.

The BJP on Sunday released its first list of 99 candidates for the election to the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly, fielding Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis from his traditional Nagpur South West seat.

Maharashtra’s BJP President, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, is set to contest from Kamthi, and Shrijaya Chavan, the daughter of BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Chavan, has been nominated to run from Bhokar.

The candidate list also includes Mumbai BJP President Ashish Selar for the Vandre West seat, and Nitesh Rane, the son of senior party leader and Lok Sabha MP Narayan Rane, contesting from Kankavli, the seat he currently represents in the assembly.

Other notable candidates are Girish Mahajan from Jamner, Sudhir Mungantiwar from Ballarpur, Mangal Prabhat Lodha from Malabar Hill, Rahul Narwekar from Colaba, and Chhatrapati Shivendra Raje Bhosale, a descendant of Chatrapati Shivaji, running from Satara.

The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Ajit Pawar, has yet to finalize their seat-sharing agreement for the upcoming Assembly elections.

The BJP is looking to contest around 150 seats in the state but is involved in tough bargaining with its allies and Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP.

In the 2019 elections, the BJP secured 105 seats, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray-Eknath Shinde faction united) got 56, and the Congress claimed 44. Similarly, in the 2014 elections, the BJP had a stronger performance with 122 seats, while Shiv Sena won 63, and Congress secured 42 seats.

Contrastingly, in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance managed to secure only 17 out of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, in comparison to the Congress-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) winning 30 seats.

The Maharashtra assembly elections for 288 seats are scheduled for November 20, with results expected on November 23.