Reacting sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Sunday at an election rally in Jammu accusing the regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir of trying to divide the country, former ally and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti said, “The PM is misleading people by equating himself with the nation. Every Indian owes his allegiance to India not PM Modi. India is not Modi and Modi isn’t India.”

Ms. Mufti said the BJP was abusing opponents to gain sympathy and power. “Why does PM bash political families pre-elections and then send his envoys to stitch alliances with the very same parties? The National Conference in 1999 and the PDP in 2015.”

‘Noxious agenda’

“Why do they [BJP] choose power over Article 370 then? BJP with its noxious agenda of banishing Muslims and minorities wants to divide India,” she added.

National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah, also a Lok Sabha candidate from Srinagar, attacked Mr. Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, saying “These are the biggest enemies of people who believe in dividing the nation on the basis of caste, creed and religion.”

Addressing a public meet in Mir Bahri Dal, Dr. Abdullah said the BJP wanted to change the very framework of the Constitution. “It is the Constitution of India which grants rights to profess any faith. It is the same Constitution which grants our State a special status by means of Article 35A and Article 370. Their sole agenda is to change the demography of our State,” said Dr. Abdullah.

‘Why did BJP back Muftis?’

In a tweet, National Conference (NC) vice-president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, said: “‘We have to rid J&K of these two political families’ says Modiji in 2014 and promptly goes and makes not one but two members of the Mufti family CM of J&K. In 2019 Modiji says ‘we have to rid J&K of these two political families’. Another jumla Modiji?”

He also posted a photograph showing Mr. Modi hugging PDP chief Mufti Mohammad Syed.