TURA, March 16: The call by the state government to restrict internet access across the five districts of Garo Hills has not gone down very well with residents who have questioned the rationale behind the decision.
Internet access in Garo Hills has been restricted since March 9, the first day of the unrest, and is yet to be restored. While the violence across Garo Hills stopped on March 11, the government has continued the internet restriction despite things returning almost back to normal. West Garo Hills, the epicentre of the current unrest has not had any case of violence since March 11.
“This is ridiculous to say the least. The government is not paying for our internet and cannot restrict connectivity in this manner. Children depend on coaching classes through the internet while many businesses are being run through it. How can the government continue this restriction when it affects everyone and that too when there are no reports of untoward incidents across Garo Hills,” asked social activist, Nilbath Ch Marak.
Nilbath has decided to file a PIL in the Meghalaya High Court to seek answers from the government and seek redressal for the lakhs of people who have been affected.
Another social activist, Greneth Sangma added, “While we appreciate the administration’s efforts to maintain law and order during the GHADC elections under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services Rules, 2017, the prolonged shutdown has now become disproportionate to the situation.”
Sangma cited a Supreme Court ruling, stating that internet access is integral to the freedom of speech and trade under Article 19 of the Constitution and such shutdowns must satisfy the tests of necessity and proportionality. Residents of Tura also expressed their disappointment at the continued internet ban asking whether the days they have lost to the restriction would be compensated by the government.
“We use our hard earned money to buy data and this is what we get. Our hard earned money is just going down the drain. We can understand the restriction till the violence was raging but is it really necessary to stretch it for almost a week,” asked a Tura resident.
Others too had a similar opinion and felt that data services need to be resumed and no further loss be forced on consumers.
