The path to redemption in Jammu and Kashmir does not seem to begin from the national media. This became evident from the outrage expressed on social media against the interviews of Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister, and Iltija Mufti, daughter of Mehbooba Mufti, yet another former chief minister. Their interviews were published days before the first anniversary of the reading down of Article 370 and demotion of J&K from a State to a Union Territory on August 5.

Their choice to speak first to the national media was perceived as a condescending disregard for Kashmiri journalists and a misguided keenness to speak to the audience outside Kashmir. In the many volleys that the Twitterati fired at Abdullah's article and interview in The Indian Express, one that stood out was from Fahad Shah, editor of The Kashmir Walla, who asked him, "When are you holding a press conference?"