High-powered panel will take call on restoration of 4G internet services in J&K: L-G
Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir GC Murmu has clarified that the committee constituted to study the matter regarding the restoration of 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir will take an “appropriate decision”.
“The panel will take a 360-degree view of the situation,” Murmu told The Tribune in an interview on Monday evening.
Amidst all speculations and some of the attributions made to him on the issue, he stated it categorically that “the Supreme Court is seized of the matter”, and affirmed only the high-power committee will take an “appropriate decision”.
The restoration of the 4G network has become a new benchmark in Jammu and Kashmir to measure the level of improvement in the situation since August 5 when the special status of the state of Jammu and Kashmir was scrapped and the announcement of its division into the two Union Territories was made by the Centre.
On the intervening night of August 4 and 5, all communication channels were snapped for there was a widespread fear of public protests.
Murmu listed a host of achievements that figure prominently on the calendar since October 31 when he took over as founding Lieutenant Governor of the UT of Jammu and Kashmir such as to have kick-started hundreds of projects and given a sped-up profile of development to J&K as a way forward.
Regarding the roadmap that he has in mind for the UT, Murmu who has been visiting places, some of them dreaded as hotbed of militancy, he said that he wants to know the people for they have “aspirations” and those aspirations are the real thing. “They have a lot of expectations,” He has already visited seven out of 10 districts in the Valley, and hopes to cover the rest of the three soon.
“The roadmap is at two levels, one legal to end the deprivation, and other the discrimination. The legal part has been taken care of by the domicile policy and the reservations are being given where those are due. We want equability and justice for all.”
“I want to end the era of deprivation that was persisting because some of the people were denied their rights. I want to do something for them so that they feel equal and get the justice that had been denied to them for decades together,” Murmu said.
Emphasising that grassroots democracy is growing and flourishing in Jammu and Kashmir, he said historic steps have been taken. Penchants have been empowered, ULB is working and for the first time Block Development Chairmen have been elected. The democracy and polls starting from the grassroots. “This is a participatory process at all levels, not exclusive.”
The LG also pointed out that health insurance cover had been provided to one and all in J&K and it goes beyond the scope of the Ayushman Bharat.
On the issue of regional bickering between the Valley and Jammu region, he said, this s another narrative, like the non-issue of Kashmir being peddled by some.” Jammu and Kashmir are one.”
TNS
