Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s assassination by Israel has raised political temperatures amid the Jammu and Kashmir elections, with BJP leaders accusing the Valley parties of being “terrorist” sympathisers after some senior politicians cancelled their campaign meetings.

Several of those who scrapped their campaigns, such as People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti, expressed “solidarity” with Hezbollah and Palestinians.

Kashmir was rocked by large anti-Israel and pro-Hebzollah protests on Sunday, with police deployed in strength to prevent violence.

Union information and broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur alleged that the PDP, National Conference (NC) and the Congress “supported terrorists” whenever there was “action against terrorists anywhere in the world”.

Mehbooba had on Saturday said she was cancelling her campaigning in “solidarity with the martyrs of Lebanon & Gaza especially Hassan Nasarullah”.

“We stand with the people of Palestine & Lebanon in this hour of immense grief & exemplary resistance,” she wrote.

Srinagar Lok Saba MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi of the NC too cancelled his campaign meetings, as did several others. Sunday was the last day of campaigning for the third and last phase of the Assembly elections on Tuesday.

NC vice-president Omar Abdullah said war clouds were hovering over West Asia and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other world leaders to use their influence to stop Israel from bombing Palestine, Syria and Lebanon.

“We have always opposed the bombing and use of force by Israel for the past year and have repeatedly demanded that it should be stopped,” Omar said.

Thakur said the real face of the Valley parties had been exposed.

“They are those who were supporting terrorists and stone-pelters. Today if there is any action against terrorists anywhere in the world, the NC, Congress and PDP are there to support them,” he said.

“They can see Gaza but not (the) death of Hindus in Dhaka. They don’t see the deaths of thousands of people killed in Jammu and Kashmir, innocents killed in terrorism… they are not supporters of democracy, but supporters of terrorism.”

Kashmir’s cyber police have issued an advisory following Nasrallah’s assassination, urging people not to post anything that can incite communal or sectarian tensions.

“We’ve noticed inflammatory and sectarian posts being shared on social media, threatening communal harmony. We urge everyone to refrain from posting or engaging in such divisive content,” the cyber police posted.

“Any individual found posting or sharing sectarian, inflammatory, or provocative content will face strict legal action under relevant sections of the law. Let’s work together to maintain the unity and tranquillity of Kashmir.”