From streets to screens: NC, PDP engaged in digital war over BJP ties, Article 370 abrogation

Srinagar: In Jammu and Kashmir’s shifting political terrain, the fiercest clashes between the ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are unfolding not on the streets, but across social media platforms over their respective ties with BJP and stance on Article 370’s abrogation.

X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook have become the primary battlegrounds, with party handles, senior leaders, and digital loyalists locked in daily digital sparring with the latest round triggered by a claim in former RAW chief AS Dulat’s book, where he reportedly states that NC president Farooq Abdullah privately supported the abrogation of Article 370.

Reacting swiftly, PDP accounts shared a photograph of Farooq and Omar Abdullah with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, taken just two days before the constitutional change on August 5, 2019. The posts implied NC’s silent approval at a critical moment.

In retaliation, NC leaders and handles posted images of PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti and her father, former Chief Minister late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, alongside BJP leaders during the PDP-BJP alliance (2015–2018), accusing the PDP of enabling the saffron party’s political entry into Kashmir.

“This isn’t just a war of images—it’s a war of political memory,” said Azhar Mir, a college student. “Both parties are fighting to rewrite recent history, to convince people that the other side was closer to the BJP when it mattered most.”

The NC has accused PDP of “opening the doors” for BJP in the Valley, while PDP counters that NC maintained silent proximity in crucial moments. Much of the content being weaponized predates the August 2019 abrogation.

“This mutual character assassination reveals a deeper anxiety,” Mir added. “With Delhi’s grip tighter than ever and young Kashmiris skeptical of dynastic politics, both NC and PDP are scrambling to distance themselves from the BJP and reclaim credibility.”

Not everyone is impressed by this digital drama. Critics argue that the online back-and-forth is a distraction from the real challenges J&K is facing.

“Behind the online chaos lies a bitter truth: both NC and PDP have, at different points, aligned with the BJP — whether for power-sharing or political convenience,” says Professor Gul Wani, former head of the Political Science department at University of Kashmir.

“At a time when Kashmir is reeling from unemployment, development inertia, and security concerns, it’s unfortunate that our mainstream parties are prioritizing digital wars and mudslinging over meaningful dialogue and solutions.”

As both parties continue their digital offensives, one thing is certain—the battle for Kashmir’s future is being shaped in hashtags and timelines, where perception often outweighs policy.