Kashmir has been without high-speed internet for 14 months now and the Centre will not explain why. On Wednesday, the Parliamentary Standin...
Kashmir has been without high-speed internet for 14 months now and the Centre will not explain why. On Wednesday, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, headed by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, asked home ministry officials why it had not been restored.
The home ministry refused to answer questions, citing national security reasons, claiming that the matter was sub judice so could not be discussed – the same reason had forced the Tharoor panel to drop the subject in August. It also argued that the Union government does not maintain a record of “suspension orders issued by various state governments including Jammu and Kashmir”.
All three reasons sound weak, at best, suggesting the Centre hides behind formalities to avoid questions on Kashmir.
National security?
The government argued national security to stonewall questions, citing Lok Sabha conduct rules that allow it to do so. It is an argument that is wearing thin.
For over a year now, the government has been citing security reasons for suspending high-speed internet, alleging that militant networks and “anti-national elements” would misuse it, that it would help circulate propaganda from across the border. But a year of internet curbs have not made a noticeable difference to the security situation. Reports suggest 2020 saw the second highest spike in militancy in a decade...
