Internet ban in Punjab, Haryana deals a blow to students taking exams, other vital services

Jain, 64, a social activist, said that he had written a letter to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on February 20.

“People don’t come forward and speak up, even as their work is affected. We are unable to get our work done at the SDM office as officials give the excuse of the internet not working. I wonder if the broadband connection is not working in these offices as well,” he said.

With Classes X and XII board exams going on, students are unable to access important information and revision notes due to the absence of internet supply. Even several day-to-day school work depends on online applications.

The internet supply has been affected in parts of Sangrur, Patiala, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar due to the ongoing farmers’ agitation on the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu and Khanauri borders.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh), Haryana, spokesperson Tejveer Singh Mann told The Indian Express, “They are talking about holding talks and resolving our issues while snapping the internet supply in a large part of Punjab and Haryana. This puts a question mark on their very own Digital India campaign.”

Digvijay Pal Sharma, president, Democratic Teachers’ Front, Punjab, said, “These days internet has become an integral part of our life and every family cannot afford broadband. Hence, the government needs to understand the problems of the people and take action accordingly.”

Online money transaction companies and online payments in business transactions have also been affected. Not only this, even in de-addiction centres, the database of patients is on the portal.

Jain said, “Many patients are even not getting medicines on re-visit.”

Meanwhile, the Haryana government on Tuesday extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven districts till Wednesday in the wake of farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ agitation.

The affected districts are Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. The government had earlier extended the suspension of mobile internet on February 13, 15, 17 and 19.

In the order, Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana T V S N Prasad said, “After assessment of the prevailing law and order situation in the state, conditions are still critical and tense in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts.” “There is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in above-mentioned districts on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours,” Prasad said.

The order has been issued under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017.

According to the order, the suspension of mobile internet services, bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services provided on mobile networks except voice calls in the jurisdiction of the seven districts has been extended till February 21.

The order has been extended to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order and shall be in force up to February 21.