Srinagar, Mar 18 (UNI) Hitting out at the government over continuation of gag on high speed mobile internet in Kashmir valley since August 5, Iltija Mufti, daughter of PDP chief and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, said that in the times of coronavirus pandemic, access to internet and information was a necessity and not a privilege.
Ms Mufti was reacting to the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday deciding to extend the 2G mobile data service till March 26 in the Union Territory, where high speed and broadband services remained suspended since August 5.
She said the world is battling with Coronavirus, but J&K administration is still unrelenting and refuses to lift inhuman ban on 4G.
‘In times of COVID pandemic, access to Internet & info is a necessity not a privilege. Are Kashmiri lives so cheap?’ Miss Mufti, who is handling the twitter handle of her mother, tweeted.
Weekly meetings are being held to review gag on high speed internet facilities in J&K on the direction of Supreme Court. The Apex court had directed the government to review the internet facilities.
Principal Secretary, Home department, Shaleen Kabra said the order has been issued upon consideration of the overall security scenario and the reports of the law enforcement agencies inter-cilia bringing out the necessity of speed-related restrictions on mobile data services to prevent misuse of social media applications, as also taking note of recent terror activities, and upon assessment of the available alternatives.
Mobile internet and broadband service of all Cellular companies was suspended in the Kashmir valley on August 5, 2019, when the Centre scrapped Article 370 and 35 A and divided the state into two Union Territories (UTs).
However, 2G mobile internet service was resumed on January 25 while broadband service was restored earlier this month with full access to social media, which was banned for about seven months in the valley.
The communication network was suspended across Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, on August 5 as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours after the special status of the state was scrapped. Suspension of the communication — landline, mobile and internet — network evoked sharp reaction, particularly from the families whose relatives were outside the valley.
It was in the last week of August that landlines were restored to subscribers connected with Barzulla and Sonawar telephone exchanges. Landlines phones of subscribers, including all media organisations, from main BSNL telephone exchange were restored only on September 5.
Meanwhile, the post-paid mobile phone service was restored on October 14 while the SMS service for BSNL started from December 31 midnight in the valley, where the pre-paid mobile service was on January 19 restored after remaining suspended for 168 days.
