Press "Enter" to skip to content

J&K tells central govt: Restoration of 4G internet will not cause problem

Last Updated on July 26, 2020 at 5:00 pm

Jammu, July 26: In what has come as a surprise for many over restoration of 4G internet in Jammu and Kashmir, the J&K UT administration has told the Ministry of Home Affairs that high speed internet will not be a problem.

The UT administration of J&K has stated that it does not have any objection in restoration of 4G internet in Jammu and Kashmir. The high speed internet services in J&K were suspended on August 5 last year after the state was bifurcated into two UTs. The central government had told in Supreme Court that the high speed internet could be used for terror activities.

However Lt Governor GC Murmu has told a national daily that UT administration has been making representations for 4G internet services in the UT. He told the daily that he feels that the high speed internet will not be a problem and that he was not worried about how people will use it. He told  that Pakistan will continue its propaganda even if high speed 4G internet is not available in J&K.

Central government had formed a special committee that comprises of Union Home Secretary, Secretary of Telecommunications Department and the Chief Secretary of J&K. The committee had not so far given a go ahead to the central government to restart the 4G internet services in J&K.

In May the administration of J&K had sought the dismissal of a plea by Foundation for Media Professionals in Supreme Court stating that the 4G internet restoration can cause spread of fake news and transfer of material that can be used for promoting terror activities in the UT.

It is important to mention here that since the high speed internet services were suspended in J&K on August 5, 2019 there has been a considerable decline in terror activities even in Kashmir. Security forces have also been able to eliminate many hardcore terrorists who were trained by Pakistan.

However there has been a demand by Jammu that 4G internet services should be restored at least in Jammu region that is comparatively peaceful that the Kashmir valley. Jammu based residents have also alleged that they had to bear the brunt of terrorism in Kashmir and the BJP led central government was not ready to listen to their genuine demands.

It will be one year on August 5 when the 4G internet services were suspended soon after Home Minister Amit Shah in Parliament announced abrogation of Article 370 from J&K. Government had apprehended that high speed internet could cause spread of fake news at that time that could have resulted in tension in J&K.