Saturday, November 7, 2009

Banning pre-paid mobile phone facilities in J&K is not at appropriate time

Due to security reasons, pre-paid mobile phone facilities were banned in Jammu and Kashmir by the government of India. Security of the people , undoubtely, is of paramount importance for the government. But the decision of Centre banning pre-paid mobile phone facilities of the people of the strife-torn state has been taken otherwise by the people than the security reasons as put forward by it.
People of the state at the instigation of separatist forces see the decision of banning pre-paid mobile phone facilities as mistrust of the Centre. Though the militant violence in the state has come down and a ray of hope of peace and development appears to be downing on the strife -torn state of Jammu and Kashmir. The recent visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh,UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other ministers of the Union Cabinet to inaugurate the rail link from Anantnag to Quazigund had strengthened the trust between the people and the Centre. It became more so apparent when Prime Minister also invited even the separatists, who have nothing to do with vioence, for talks.
But the Centre’s move to ban pre-paid mobile phone facility in the state gave an issue to the two prominent state political parties- PDP and National Conference- to exploit the decision to extricate political favour for them. Though banning Pre-paid mobile phone facilities has hit hard atleast 20,000 people who were engaged in the business of providing this facility and through which they were earning their livelihood, 3.8 million people have been deprived of availing the facilities.
From security point of view, the government of India has taken the right step. Because this facility has contributed to several militant violences in Jammu and Kashmir. Several connections of prepaid mobiles have been taken by militants on the fraud name of local inhabitants. Kashmir’s opposition PDP activists led by president Mehbooba Mufti has undertaken a peaceful march to Lal Chowk to protest the decision to withdraw prepaid mobile phone facilities in the state. She has dubbed the banning decision a shadow of doubt on the entire population of Jammu and Kashmir Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah of the state’s ruling National Conference has also criticised the decision, saying that it was tantamount to treating every citizen of the state as a militant.
The decision of banning the pre-paid mobile phone facilities in Jammu and Kashmir has given the ruling NC as well as Opposition PDP a fillip in their arms to mislead the people. They see it as an opportunity, especially PDP, to get the people of the state agitated against the Centre. The Home ministry must make the appraisal of the situation on the ground and impact of the decision of banning pre-paid mobile facilities among the people. It must look at the decision from political angle also for the time being, though security concern must be of paramount importance.

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