4G restoration to be delayed as new L-G will review issue
High speed Internet has been suspended for more than a year
Restoration of 4G Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir could be delayed further with appointment of new lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha as sources claim he is expected to review the entire issue in detail again. High speed internet services in Valley have been suspended for more than a year now immediately after Article 370 was abrogated.
Suspension of high speed 4G internet services in the Valley has remained a highly contentious issues as there have been increasing demands from various
quarters that these services be restored. However, the move has been strongly opposed by multiple security and intelligence agencies on the grounds that this would trigger a fresh round of terror activities and spreading false propaganda. The matter has also been pending in the Supreme Court in view of some petitions being filed for restoring the services.
Sources claimed that the previous J&K L-G G.C. Murmu, who in a surprise move resigned and has now been appointed the CAG, was in favour on partial resumption of the 4G internet services. Mr Murmu, sources added, had interacted with a cross section of the people in the Valley during his tenure and got a sense that there was a strong sentiment for restoring internet services. Thus, this would remain a big challenge for the new Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who is known for his administrative acumen. However, it is believed that that no hasty decision is expected to be taken on the vexed issue and that the people of the Valley would have to wait for a longer time for this.
“We feel the new Lt Governor will hold fresh talks with stakeholder, including security and intelligence agencies, on this contentious issue and then reach a view before taking into with the Union Home Ministry. But it is clear no hasty decisions would be taken,’’ a senior home ministry official added.