National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the BJP top brass was focussing its election campaign on Jammu as they want to intimidate the Hindu voters of Jammu and Kashmir by creating false fears.

Abdullah also accused the BJP of misleading the people by claiming that terrorism would rise again if the National Conference and Congress alliance came to power in Jammu and Kashmir.

“BJP wants to threaten the Hindu community. They think the Hindus will vote for them but today the Hindus have changed. First, they sought votes in the name of Ram and now they want to intimidate them,”  Abdullah charged.

National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah paid tributes to the founding leader of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference and father of Farooq Abdullah, Sheikh Abdullah on his 42nd death anniversary, in Srinagar.

Speaking to reporters after paying tribute, he said BJP repealed Article 370 of the Constitution but did terrorism end. Terrorism is rising again and it is all their responsibility, he added.

Abdullah was responding to a question on why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were campaigning in Jammu while ignoring Kashmir.

Reacting to Shah’s criticism of the NC-Congress coalition during his visit to Jammu, the former Chief Minister said he was only trying to malign his party.

“National Conference will win. I only want to say to Amit Shah that we are against the India they want to create. The country belongs to everyone. Those who are raising their voice against Muslims should know that Muslims have also sacrificed their lives for the freedom of this country,” he said.

 “But, God willing they won’t succeed. Our efforts will pave the way to serve for the betterment of our people. The Home Minister can keep saying as much about us as he wants but I want to tell him that we are against that Bharat, which they want to create. Bharat belongs to all — Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists.

“We are not intruders. We and not snatching away mangalsutra. Muslims have an equal contribution towards the freedom of India,” he added.

On restoration of statehood, Abdullah said the NC-Congress alliance would get it back. On BJP manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir polls, he said it was just a “jumla” (rhetoric).

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the collapse of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Maharashtra saying it was an insult to the Maratha icon.

Assuring that a life-size statue of late Congress leader Patangrao Kadam in Maharashtra’s Sangli district installed by his party will be here even after 50-70 years, while Shivaji Maharaj’s statue, Gandhi said, fell only a few days later after being inaugurated by PM Modi.

Addressing an event here, he said Prime Minister should apologise not just to Shivaji Maharaj but also to every person of Maharashtra.

The Raebareli MP said Congress’ ideology is in the DNA of Maharashtra. Earlier, there used to be politics, but today there is an ideological fight in India, he added. “We want social progress but BJP wants that only a select few get all benefits,” he said.

“I am feeling happy to be here to remember Kadam ji. He dedicated his entire life to serving the Congress party, Maharashtra, and the country. He did a lot of developmental work, educational work and stood with the Congress party throughout his life,” Gandhi said.

The former Congress chief said Maharashtra is a progressive state and different people carried out progressive work here and inspired the public here.

Mentioning the party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, also present at the event, Gandhi said: “As we landed, I told Kharge ji that I have noticed one thing. I said you become happy when I go to Karnataka with you, but I have also noticed that you are equally happy when you come to Maharashtra. He replied, the Congress party’s ideology is rooted deep into Maharashtra, that’s why I am happy when I come here.”

In a post on X, Gandhi took a jibe at PM Modi and said Maharashtra and the whole country want to know why the Prime Minister apologised.

In a series of speculations, Gandhi asked did PM Modi apologise for giving contracts to RSS people without merit, for the corruption in the construction of the statue, or for insulting a revered great man like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Gandhi asked.

“Whatever the reason, the Prime Minister and BJP are criminals of entire Maharashtra along with Shivaji Maharaj – they should apologize to every resident of the state for their behavior and corruption”, the Congress leader said.

Retorting sharply to Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s warning that he will after 2027 order all bulldozers to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s hometown Gorakhpur, Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said that not everyone has the heart and character to handle a bulldozer.

The remarks from the Chief Minister came in response to the Samajwadi Party chief’s Tuesday comment on bulldozer, the machine which has become emblematic of his style of governance.

“As soon as the Samajwadi government is formed in 2027, the bulldozers of the entire state will head towards Gorakhpur,” Yadav had said.

Adityanath said only those with a bulldozer-like capability can operate it.

Addressing an event during appointment letter distribution in Prayagraj, Adityanath said, “Today these people have come back in a new form to mislead the public. Not everyone’s hands can fit on a bulldozer.”

“It requires both heart and mind. Only someone who has a bulldozer-like capability and determination can operate it. Those who grovel before the rioters will not be able to stand in front of a bulldozer”, he added.

The CM also made a pun on Yadav’s nickname saying, “Now ‘Tipu’ is also trying to become a ‘Sultan’.” He said Yadav’s ambition of returning to power in Uttar Pradesh is nothing more than a daydream, and accused the former Chief Minister and his uncle Shivpal Yadav of indulging in extortion during his rule.

“There used to be a competition between ‘chacha-bhatija’ in extorting money. Areas between them were divided. I can see that at this time some man-eating wolves are creating havoc in different districts.

“More or less the same situation was in the state before the year 2017,” Adityanath said.

Hours after the Chief Minister’s attack, the Samajwadi Party chief in no time on his X handle slammed back in Hindi and said: “If you and your bulldozer are so successful, then form a separate party and contest elections with the bulldozer election symbol.”

“Your illusions and pride will be shattered. Anyway, in your current situation, even if you are in BJP, you are as good as no, you will have to form a separate party, if not today then tomorrow”, the Samajwadi Party chief added.