Farmer Protest: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered an extension of the internet service ban until February 24 in a few districts in Punjab, including Patiala, Sangrur, and Fatehgarh Sahib. A previous suspension of internet access was implemented from February 12 to February 16 in response to the farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest.
Extended Internet Ban in Punjab Districts
The areas covered by the Shambhu, Julkan, Passian, Patran, Shatrana, Samana, Ghanaur, Devigarh, and Balbhera police stations in Patiala; the Lalru police station in Mohali; the Sangat police station in Bathinda; the Killianwali police station in Muktsar; the Sardulgarh and Boha police stations in Mansa; the Khanauri, Moonak, Lehra, Sunam, and Chajli police stations in Sangrur; and the areas under the Fatehgarh Sahib police station will continue to have internet services suspended.
Legal Basis for Internet Suspension
Utilising its unique authority granted by the Telegraph Act of 1885, the Centre shut down internet access in certain Punjabi regions. “In exercise of the power conferred by section 7 of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 read with Sub-rule 1 of Rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017, and in the interest of maintaining public safety and averting public emergency, it is necessary and expedient to order, the temporary suspension of internet services from 00:00 Hrs on February 17, 2024 to 23:59 Hrs on February 24, 2024 in the following areas,” the order read.
Chief Minister’s Concerns
Bhagwant Mann, the chief minister of Punjab, brought up the matter of internet service suspension in certain areas during a meeting with Chandigarh’s farmer leaders on February 15. Bulk SMS and mobile internet services have been discontinued in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa by the Haryana government.
Delhi Chalo’ Movement
Leading the ‘Delhi Chalo’ movement to exert pressure on the Centre over their demands, which include a law on minimum support price for crops and loan waivers, are the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Punjab farmers started their ‘Delhi Chalo’ march on Tuesday, but at the border crossings with Haryana at Shambhu and Khanauri, security guards halted them.
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