Srinagar, Political analysts in Srinagar assert that the Indian government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is manipulating media narratives to portray an image of peace and development in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) that does not align with the region’s realities. This strategy is reportedly aimed at misleading the international community and distracting from the area’s troubling situation.

According to Kashmir Media Service, anonymous sources among Srinagar’s political analysts express that the so-called advancements in IIOJK, publicized following the controversial repeal of Article 370 and 35A in August 2019, are part of New Delhi’s broader propaganda efforts. These analysts argue that such changes have actually regressed life in IIOJK across various domains, exacerbating tensions and hardships for its residents. They emphasize that these governmental actions have made the region less attractive for investment and have worsened the local socio-economic conditions.

The sources further criticized the portrayal of the recent Indian parliamentary elections in IIOJK as a superficial cover for the deep-rooted issues faced by the populace, who feel increasingly isolated and suppressed under the current regime. Despite the government’s claims, the true desires of the region’s people lean more towards peace and freedom, with calls for a UN-supervised plebiscite to genuinely resolve the Kashmir dispute.

The report also highlighted local grievances regarding economic policies that purportedly favor non-local businesses over indigenous Kashmiris, leading to a loss of jobs and land for the native population. This, coupled with ongoing security issues, paints a starkly different picture from the one propagated by official Indian channels, portraying a community in distress rather than one on the path to prosperity.