Restore Mobile, Internet Connection In Kashmir

284 Indians, comprising both residents of India and the Diaspora representing all walks of life, Sunday petitioned to the President of India R N Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore mobile, internet connection in Kashmir and hold assembly polls in J&K. The petitioners, who also comprised right activists, journalists, academicians including former Kashmir interlocutor Prof Radha Kumar,, while batting for early conduct of polls, have stated that the people of J&K should be allowed to discuss the momentous changes to Article 370 and the status of Jammu and Kashmir and take call on these issues through their elected representatives.

Expressing concern over a two-month long communication blockade, they maintained that they were unable even to speak to their friends and relatives in the Valley. “The people of the Kashmir valley and parts of Jammu have been under security, political and communications lockdown since August 5, 2019. Thousands of troops man the entrances and exits to their homes, schools and universities. Hundreds of political leaders, including former Chief Ministers and legislators are under ‘preventive detention.’ Mobile phones are blocked and internet snapped. Businesses have lost thousands of crores. At the same time, our government has removed Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and divided the state into two Union Territories. Both steps were taken without consultation with the people of the former state or their elected leaders,” they stated.