As the internet facilitates almost every service online to subscribers, so in this technologically developed twenty first century where the people of whole world are densely connected through the network of mobile internet, leading a challenging and fast life at par with the people of other countries and states, demands continuous and uninterrupted facility of internet. Whereas on one hand internet connectivity works as a life line for the people on this date, however on the other hand in Kashmir the story is entirely different. Frequent Internet blocking often irks the people of valley where the people are not in a position to avail it’s full service by 24×7. Hardly In Kashmir you have experienced full uninterrupted service for any week. Snapping mobile Internet services is the first step, which the government calls the law and order precautionary measure, taken immediately after every tensed situation prevails in valley and after every apprehension of encounter between Indian forces and militants. Snapping internet oftentimes which is a routine thing in Kashmir is used as a special weapon by government to keep the situation under control. Whenever you come through the news that something untoward has happened and you try to confirm the news by opening mobile internet, the message which flashes on your mobile display reads, “as per a government order, the internet service in your area has been temporarily blocked”, However, not in detail but it gives you a clue about some tragic incident. Though the internet remains shut in all the parts of Kashmir valley during the days of untoward circumstances, but the south Kashmir remains affected more due to the frequency of arising troublesome circumstances and people suffer a lot. This is the right of every one to use internet irrespective of the region, religion colour and creed they belong to. So frequent cuts in internet which stops customers from availing its basic services is not less than snatching a right from the common people, hence it also wouldn’t be wrong to call it human-rights violation.
Ironically, on one hand high claims about digital India are being made “the slogan to digitalize almost every service in India” , but on the other hand government is up in arms to de-digitalize Kashmir, why this discrimination? Nowadays internet plays a key role to carry out almost all business activities. So snapping internet hampers the life in every dimension, be it , e-banking, communication, registration for different services, examination preparation by students, booking tickets etc. every thing stops when the mobile internet is stopped. This stoppage of services pushes the life of native people back by the time internet remains off. So it is difficult for the native people to live life and show progress at par with those who live outside the valley, hence lag behind in every respect. One fails to understand that why on one hand people are made to suffer for internet services for most of the days in a month, on the other hand why telecom companies loot subscribers by charging the huge bills for those days too during which the internet remains off. Internet has become the necessity of life, people who are kept deprived from it though eventually live a life as if living in a dark room having no knowledge about outside. People feel suffocated when deprived from it’s services. If the government has a compulsion to maintain law and order and keep any type unfavorable situation under control, they can’t do it at the cost of subjecting one and all to the hardships by snatching their right to use basic service of internet. If you think someone would spread rumours, you can’t make all people hostage by stopping them from availing service as a whole. No doubt, broadband service is kept available during every kind of situations but most of the people are not in a position to install much expensive broadband services. Mobile internet can use every poorest of poor but broadband service is the luxury enjoyed by only upper class. Moreover, social media is the only media through which every individual can freely express his view points. If the freedom of expression is fundamental right of the people, then why hindrance is being made for people to express their opinions openly on social media. To maintain law and order doesn’t mean that there are only harsh and undue options not the soft options to keep the situation under control without upsetting the people as a whole.
( The author a teacher by profession is a freelance writer. Views are his own [email protected])
