Jammu:
A text message doing the rounds in Jammu directs people to a Facebook image of the Chief Minister of Omar Abdullah. The image is a doctored poster of the film 3 Idiots, and presents Abdullah, his father, and grandfather as the movie's three main characters.
A political controversy has erupted after Opposition leader Mehbooba Mufti forwarded the SMS. Workers from Abdullah's party, the National Conference, protested in Jammu's streets on Friday.
"Mehbooba Mufti says somebody sent the SMS to her and she forwarded it. What does that mean? Doesn't she know there is a law of defamation? We will sue them," says Abdullah's Finance Minister, Abdul Rahim Rather.
In her defence, Mufti says she didn't create the poster or the SMS publicising it, she simply forwarded it. She also accuses the Government of using the SMS as a diversionary tactic. "They have really stooped to the lowest level, to divert the attention of the people from the real crisis we are facing in the state," she claims.
For the state's two major political parties to engage in this back-and-forth is worrying. The people of the state are dealing with resurgence in militancy, serious law and order issues and human rights violations. Earlier this week, an army of stone-pelters - young protestors who attack security forces with stones - killed an 11-day-old baby.
There are real and larger problems that need the energy and attention of Kashmir's leaders.