Internet blockade in J&K kicks off storm in the time of Digital India

Internet blockade has sparked off a major controversy in Jammu and Kashmir at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modiis pushing for the digital India in the United States.

From tourism to industry to health care, Jammu and Kashmir has suffered huge losses as Mufti Mohammad Sayeed led government imposed the three day ban on the internet from Friday fearing that the uploading of pictures of the animal sacrifices by Muslims on Bakr Eid might trigger communal clashes.

"We have suffered Rs 30 to 40 crore losses due to the internet ban in the last three days. From current booking to future bookings, everything has gone for a toss. Most importantly the internet ban has sent a wrong message across which could affect our tourist arrivals next year", GM Dag, president, Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Federation (KHROF), told dna.

Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and industry (KCCI) has decided to take up the internet ban with the chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed since the industry has suffered colossal losses due to the cyber-blockade

"Call centers operating in Kashmir became duds due to the internet blockade. Hotel and ticket booking suffered immensely. Export communications came to a standstill. On top of it we could not file the income tax returns because online system was not working. Ironically internet was blocked when Prime Minister was talking of digital India," Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, president of KCCI, told dna.

Mufti Mohommad Sayeed's People's Democratic Party (PDP), however, defended the decision to suspend internet "for the greater good and maintaining harmony" between the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir


"Internet ban was done in view of law and order situation. It has obviously helped in de-escalating the panic. There was no loss of life, no panic and no tensions in the two regions. It is not as if oxygen has been stopped," said Waheed-ur-Rehman Para, spokesman of PDP and political analyst to chief minister.

Unimpressed by government's explanation, premier opposition party National Conference (NC) called the move "draconian and anti poor". "When they say there is peace in Kashmir then what is the need of blocking internet... Internet ban has hit hard our hotelier, houseboat owner, poor shikara operator et al," said Farooq Abdullah, president of NC.

Former chief minister Omar Abdullah took to twitter to lampoon government by wishing people "Internet Mubarak" after the ban was revoked on Monday morning. "Oh the irony of listening to the PM talking about digital India while we in J&K spent 3 days totally disconnected due to his party & allies", he tweeted.

BJP, which shares power with PDP, defended the decision to ban the internet saying people of J&K had a blissful Eid. "Motive (to ban internet) was peaceful atmosphere should prevail so that mischievous elements will not use internet as free broadcasting station", said Khalid Jehangir, BJP spokesman in Kashmir. (DNA)