Srinagar, May 1 (KNS): In the wake of the recent tragedy in Pahalgam, senior Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference (JKPC) leader and general secretary Imran Reza Ansari has voiced concern over what he described as a coordinated attempt by outside content creators to manipulate public sentiment in Kashmir.
"The mature Kashmiri response — the grief, the outrage, the peaceful protests — seems to have unsettled those who wish to malign us," Ansari said in a public statement. "And now, an army of YouTubers has descended on Kashmir, pushing leading questions to unsuspecting locals, seeking responses that reinforce negative stereotypes."
Ansari urged people across the region to refrain from engaging with such content creators. "This is a humble request and unsolicited advice to please keep away from them. We don’t know their backgrounds or motives.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelOne person’s misstep in front of a camera could be used to vilify an entire community," he cautioned, warning against the dangers of collective punishment.
Taking a critical look inward, Ansari also called on political leaders to introspect. “What these YouTubers try to extract from ordinary Kashmiris is often what we, as politicians, say unprompted. It’s time we asked ourselves — are we just glorified YouTubers serving the same agenda?”
Ansari’s comments come amid growing public skepticism of social media content creators who have recently flocked to the Valley following the Pahalgam incident. His remarks underscore a larger concern among Kashmiri leaders and citizens alike — the portrayal of Kashmir through an external, and at times exploitative, lens. (KNS)