Farooq asks partymen to effectively use social media to deepen public engagement

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 9: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President and Member of Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah today exhorted the party functionaries to effectively use social media to deepen public engagement and fight fake narratives with facts.
“Media and Social media wings have a responsibility to fight the misinformation with facts and guide the people, particularly the youth about the party’s historical role in salvaging the people of J&K from the strife of slavery, and feudalism,” he said while presiding over an introductory meeting of the newly constituted wings of party’s Media, Social Media and panelists, here today.
Farooq Abdullah said that in the present era, social media is very important due to its widespread use in the modern era and has emerged as a strongest platform. “We have to guide our youth about the strides made by the party through its Naya Kashmir Manifesto. In the current era, when people’s woes aren’t heard, we can use the platforms to highlight the issues of public concern.” he said.
Dr Farooq further said that the National Conference is engaged in the struggle to restore the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and effective use of social media can make a proactive contribution in reaching out to the right-thinking people across the country.
Exhorting the newly constituted media and Social media teams, the NC chief said that the public opinion is the currency of democracy and Social media platforms across the world are increasingly becoming the primary ground for public discourse and mobilization of public opinion.
Farooq Abdullah said that the new media have wide-ranging implications for political parties as it has radically altered the ways in which politician parties operated and political leaders communicated. “It’s high time that we also make better use of these platforms to set an agenda and propagate the party ideology and viewpoint,” he added.
Party Vice President Omar Abdullah joined the meeting virtually and also addressed the participants. General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar, Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Provincial President Nasir Aslam Wani, Treasurer Shammi Oberoi, Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, Senior leaders Muhammad Shafi Uri, Sakina Itoo, Member of Parliament Hasnain Masoodi and party leaders, media and social media office bearers were also present.
On this occasion, the participants presented their opinions regarding the media, social media and the requirements of the modern era and also offered their useful suggestions.
Media panelists from Jammu Province, including Provincial President Jammu Rattan Lal Gupta, senior leaders Sajjad Kitchloo, Javed Rana, party leaders and officials from the media wing participated in the meeting through video conferencing and presented their views. The meeting was coordinated by party’s Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq.