New Delhi:Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, speaks to Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology and Law & Justice on telephone on thursday seeking immediate restoration of high-speed 4G internet services in the union territory." Restriction of internet speed or access makes it difficult for people to navigate their way through a difficult time of pandemic and further undermining their trust in the authorities. The Government of India needs to adopt a rights-respecting approach to protect public health and restore access to 4G speed internet in all the districts of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh ," Azad told Ravi Shankar Prasad
It is pertinent to mention here that Internet services were suspended in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 last year, hours before the centre announced the abrogation of Article 370. While the 2G services on postpaid mobile phones and broadband and lease-line services were restored months later, the 4G services continued to remain suspended and Attorney general KK Venugopal informed a three-judge bench headed by justice NV Ramana that a special committee constituted based on the top court’s May 11 directions to review restrictions on mobile internet speed in J-K took inputs from security forces and local agencies before concluding on August 10 that threat perception due to terrorist activities in the Union territory continues to be high.