Jammu, Mar 5 (KNS): While appreciating the role of civil society, political parties and other organisations at national level, who raised voices against longest recorded Internet gag in the world imposed in J&K on August 5, CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said people in J&K had to undergo immense sufferings due to the communication blockade imposed by the government.
The unprecedented internet gag imposed in Jammu & Kashmir on August 5 last year has been witnessed nowhere in the democratic world. It is because of strong protests raised by social groups, opposition parties, mass organisations, writers and intelligentsia at national level that the 2G services and social media has been restored now.

A statement issued to KNS, it is high time that 4G services on phones and broadband services are restored for optimum utilization of internet facilities by the people particularly the businessmen and the students’ community.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThe lockdown has cost Jammu & Kashmir’s economy billions since August, with sectors directly dependent on the internet such as e-commerce and information technology worst hit, the statement said.

The internet ban impacted everything from education to access to healthcare. It served a major blow to tour operators, hoteliers and artisans as well. Some of the people associated with carpet industry, handicrafts, paper machie, tourism, IT and e-commerce had to shift offices to New Delhi, Punjab and other citie, the statement reads.
Such reckless decisions which wreck hovac on the lives of the people should not be repeated in future (KNS)