The Jammu and Kashmir government’s propaganda blitz over a high-profile G20 meeting in Srinagar seems to have gone awry after its official handles posted a picture of a swanky Bangladesh walkway to showcase the city's development.
The picture that was widely shared by the official social media handles over the last two days suggested a “magnificent makeover” of Srinagar’s Boulevard Road.
Dozens of foreign dignitaries who are participating in the G20 meeting on tourism from May 22 to 24 are scheduled to take the Boulevard Road, which semi-circles the Dal Lake, to reach the venue at Sher e Kashmir International Convention.
Boulevard Road has been embellished in view of the G20 meeting, along with Srinagar city and some other stretches, but the controversial picture has reportedly originated from Jhautala in Bangladesh’s Patuakhali.
The image shows a walkway decorated with colourful paver blocks and illuminated by floodlights. It was shared by BJP leaders, pro-government activists and the Right-wing ecosystem to showcase Srinagar's transformation since the scrapping of the special status in 2019.
Several social media users taunted Pakistan for keeping the other Kashmir backward.
Caught on the wrong foot, Counter Disinformation Centre, a Twitter handle reportedly enjoying the official patronage, stepped in on Saturday to debunk the claims.
"A picture is being shared by some official handles, politicians and social media users with the false claim that Boulevard Road, leading to the venue for G20 Summit in Srinagar has been given a new look to welcome G20 delegates,” the centre tweeted.
"Fact: Upon @JKCDC_ research, we found that the picture is from Patukhali Bangladesh and was shared by various social media handles from Bangladesh in February,” it added.
Dozens of handles that had shared the picture to showcase Srinagar’s beauty included Information & PR, J&K and its social media accounts for Budgam, Bandipora and Kulgam districts.
"Isn't this a pleasant surprise. This Boulevard Road in Srinagar has been given a magnificent makeover to welcome delegates from across the world for the #G20Kashmir summit,” BJP’s national spokesman R.P. Singh tweeted.
