Islamabad, The Indian media’s coverage of recent protests in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) over inflation has come under scrutiny for allegedly distorting facts to suit the agendas of the Hindutva government in India.
According to Kashmir Media Service, while the AJK protests are a local response to economic conditions specifically rising prices and inflation Indian outlets have misrepresented them as political upheavals. This coverage contrasts starkly with the reality in AJK, where residents enjoy political freedoms, including a local government with a Prime Minister, a President, and a Supreme Court, not to mention the right to protest a stark contrast to the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where such freedoms are heavily curtailed under military oversight.
Experts in media studies, such as Dr. Ahmed, criticize the Indian media’s approach, pointing out a pattern of using news coverage to serve nationalistic purposes and destabilize regional perceptions. “Indian media has a clear agenda to destabilize Pakistan and create chaos in the region,” Dr. Ahmed stated, emphasizing the strategy of spinning narratives to deflect international attention from the self-determination movement in IIOJK.
The biased reporting tactics of Indian media have been condemned by global media analysts for potentially undermining India’s own democratic values by misinforming the public and international community. In contrast, Pakistani media’s coverage of the same protests has been noted for its objectivity and adherence to journalistic standards, focusing on the economic demands of the AJK populace without sensationalism.
This disparity in reporting highlights ongoing issues with media freedom in India, where journalists face increasing pressure to align with government narratives or face repercussions, which has led to criticism from various international media watchdogs regarding press freedoms in India.