Restoration of 4G seems like a mirage in deserts: Harsh Dev

“When the 4G mobile services were banned on August 5, 2019, it was assured that they would soon be restored. The authorities, claimed that it was a ‘temporary’ measure to curb the abuse of internet facility by disruptive elements posts Art 370 abrogation. While 18 months have elapsed, the restoration of the said facility appears to be a distant dream with the authorities concerned extending the deadline without giving any convincing explanation. The govt seemed to be completely unconcerned with the woes of varied sections who have been suffered immensely due to unwarranted curbs on mobile internet services which had become a necessity in the contemporary world”. This was stated by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and former Minister while addressing a press conference in Jammu today.

While the govt was extending the internet ban by 3-4 weeks at a time since August 5, 2019, it was not clear as to what exactly, was the length of this ‘temporary’ ban, rued Singh. The assurances for restoring the facility were given by erstwhile Lt Governor GC Murmu also who had categorically stated that linking restoration of 4G with militancy escalation was a flawed premise. Not only that the present Lt Governor too had hinted at early lifting of the said ban but its extension yesterday to a further date had once again disappointed the common masses who felt that its restoration was akin to a mirage in the deserts”, observed Mr. Singh.

Going by the Supreme Court orders, the mobile internet services ought to have been restored immediately after January 10, 2020, the day of SC ruling, in the same shape in which they existed prior to imposition of ban, said Singh. He however lamented that the govt seemed to be hell bent to prolong the agony of the people by continuing with the restrictions. He said that not only was the right to internet declared a fundamental right but the court had gone much ahead by ruling that govt could not use arbitrary powers to ban internet for prolonged period. Further, he divulged, the court had ruled that detailed reasons needed to be given for suspending such services even in critical situations as well.

Flaying the govt for prolonging the longest ever internet ban in the country, Mr. Harsh Dev said that it appeared to have taken the people of J&K for granted. “Not only that the provision of 2G services by charging 4G prices amounted to a huge scam which could not have been possible without consent of the ruling dispensation. And all this notwithstanding the fact the social media had become an important tool of communication and social liasoning”, regretted Singh. He said that simmering public discontent over the communication blocked could prove immensely counterproductive especially in a situation wherein the people were feeling let down by demotion of state into UT besides other authoritarian moves of the present regime.

Asserting that the rule of whim prevailed in J&K in sharp contrast to the principles of a democratic system, the NPP Chairman said that the BJP leadership will have to pay a heavy price in the days to come for unwarranted restrictions imposed by it upon the freedoms and rights of the very people who catapulted it to power. The BJP has penned down its own obituary by its highhandedness and arrogance, its disregard for peoples’ sentiments and its contempt for democratic principles and human values and shall meet its waterloo at the hustings”, observed Singh.

Sdr. Paramjit Singh Marshall State President (Panthers Trade Union); Mr. Gagan Pratap Singh State Secretary (JKNPP); Mr. Parshotam Parihar State Secretary (Panthers Trade Union) and Mr. Surinder Chouhan District President (Jammu Rural) were also present in the press conference.