Srinagar: The governments one-month ban on social media in the Kashmir valley has opposition political parties all angry against the decision, saying that the ban is repressive and undemocratic.
JKPCC president G A Mir said that the curbing social media is anti-democratic and does not suit in the state that has acceded to the worlds largest democracy in the world.
On the one side, BJP government is claiming to make India digital, and on the other side the party being in alliance with PDP has banned social media which lays their claims bare, Mir said.
The ban will incur economic losses to the state as young entrepreneurs in Kashmir were using social media for their business. Now, they are left with no alternative than to shut down their business. Also, travel agencies, hoteliers, students appearing in different competitive exams will face immense difficulties, Mir said.
If 1% people in Kashmir were, as per government, anti-social elements why punish 99%? he added.
National Conference Provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani described the ban on social media as repressive measure of the PDP-BJP government.
Banning social media is one of the repressive measures by the Government. Instead of using such repressive method, government should reach out to the people, and push the centre government to start political dialogue on Kashmir.
Despite ban on social media, people protested in Kupwara near the army camp, students protested in Pulwama. Who provoked them when there is no social media? he asked.
Senior CPI (M) leader and MLA Kulgam Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said that the move would seriously affect the economy of the state and careers of youth.
Banning internet in an era when most of the economy and careers of youth depend on such means of communication reveals the sheer frustration of the government, he said. This will not only inflicted losses to business community, but also badly hit the students careers.
The CPI(M) leader said the ban on internet has caused much inconvenience to common people. People whose livelihood is associated with the smooth functioning of internet are suffering most. While stating that such a move would prove counterproductive, he urged upon the government to lift ban on internet services in the valley forthwith.
The PDP-BJP alliance on Wednesday banned 22 social media networks in the Kashmir valley for initially for a month citing disturbance to peace and harmony in the state.
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