SRINAGAR – As the gag on all means of communication, including mobile and internet services, continued for the 67th day on Thursday in Kashmir valley, Hajj aspirants have been asked to file application forms offline.
An official said that Hajj aspirants can collect forms from their respective Deputy Commissioners from Thursday. “The aspirants can then submit the hand-written forms at State Hajj Committee office in Srinagar,” they added.
The Hajj aspirants had expressed concern and asked Hajj committee authorities to either provide facility for filing the forms online or allow them to submit hand-written forms.
Union Ministry of Minority Affairs had said that all formalities should be done online and the aspirants would get e-visas. The ministry said that application forms will be available online which can also be filled from mobile apps.
The communication network was suspended across Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, on August 5 as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours after Article 370 and Article 35 A were scrapped. Suspension of the communication — landline, mobile and internet — network evoked sharp reaction, particularly from the families whose relatives were outside the valley.
It was in the last week of August that landlines were restored to subscribers connected with Barzulla and Sonawar telephone exchanges. Landlines phones of subscribers, including all media organizations, from main BSNL telephone exchange were restored only on September 5.
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