By SHAHID MAJEED MIR
There was a time when Kashmir was called as the Paradise on earth but now the thing has been changed which is called the Hell on Earth. I am regretting on this that out betrayal leaders are promising with us at the time of election which has never been fulfilled since seven decades. I want to ask our leaders that you should see the things in Kashmir through a different prism so that you will be able to understand the thing. A bit of confusing that if PM (Narender Modi) had tweeted before couple of months, the students should be in grounds and colleges then why our colleges have been shut off on the other hand who wants to play in ground are receiving bullets and pellets. Where is your Democratic country and Digital country? I fed on this also before couple of months our CM (Mehooba Mufti) says in a report that did the children’s had gone to the Army Camps and Police Stations For purchasing Milk and Sweets. Today I want to know, Did Police had come to the Colleges for Admission or anything else. Where is your Agenda of Alliance? Internet has become an indispensable part of our everyday life and since it became available to the vast majority of people in this part of the world as well, we spend a good time online.
Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter are the water coolers of our times. Business and education are highly dependent on internet. On one side, India is going smart, digital, cashless and transforming progressively but on the other side, Kashmiris are barred, not allowed to access the internet, at least. In Kashmir, mobile and internet bans are a routine part of life. Every Independence Day, every Republic Day, every time there is the possibility of resistance, channels of communication are blocked. The cell phone towers themselves became a site of conflict in the recent past. Clamping down on communication has psychological costs beyond the immediate conflagration. Kashmiris have accepted that communication is just another one of the many freedoms that the state will take away from them. They are getting used to this new era of restrictions. The government needs to understand that banning of internet won’t stop rumours. JK government needs to find other ways to curb the growth of misinformation. It needs to make space for these healing processes, instead of being afraid of smoke and mirrors. Living disconnected from the internet in a society where everyone is online 24×7 is a tough ride, impossible. Internet ban isn’t good. It is a bad idea. It is unpleasant, and uncomfortable. Enough is enough. Govt. should reconsider the decision, lift the unjust ban and resume the service in the valley now. I mean now. Needless to say, I will be excited to be back.
(The author is Civil Service Aspirant and can be reached at mirshahid363@gmail.com)
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