Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 30: Reacting on Government of India’s response in the Supreme Court over snapping internet services in Kashmir, CPI (M) today said that the technology has been balanced out and the State cannot deprive seven million people of internet facility.
A party statement issued here said that by justifying the restriction that social media platform are being used to serve the interest of a section of people seeking to propagate anti-state sentiments, the Centre has paralyzed the lives of seven million people in the Valley. Snapping of internet services has affected the livelihood of lakhs of traders and common people,” it said.
“If the technology is being misused by some individuals or anti-national elements, the administration needs to act against those elements under law. The administration cannot shut internet services till eternity and justify the same by saying that it can be misused,” it said.
The party said that shutting down the internet services is a grave violation of fundamental right to life, right to education. “The abnormal conditions have been induced in Kashmir through restrictions on internet,” the party added.
Further, the statement said that the tourism sector which employs close to five lakh people, has been the worst affected in the absence of internet connectivity. Due to the snapping of internet services, all e-commerce companies have stopped delivering products to the Valley. In the same fashion, education system has also affected badly.
The media in Kashmir have been facing major issued due to the communication blockade. The communication blockade imposed meant that there are few ways to verify what is actually happening on ground.
The party said that the Government cannot hide behind a likelihood of acts and terror and restrictions cannot be justified on the basis of J&K being in the grip of terror, which it has been for past three decades.
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