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| Again centre bungles on mobile phone services | | |
The state of Jammu and Kashmir has to remain in news whether for right or wrong reasons.This time the state was in news following the decision of the union Home Ministry to impose ban on the use of SMS in Jammu and Kashmir.The state was in news again when the ban was lifted a few hours before the restrictions had to be enforced.In November last the state was in news when a blanket ban was imposed on prepaid mobile phones.In January the state was again in news when the ban was lifted after the mobile operators were asked to issue prepaid cell connections only after proper verification.The result was several thousand people had to seek new connections.This time the union Home Ministry acted on an old demand by the security agencies operating in Jammu and Kashmir.These agencies had requested the concerned authorities in the centre that the BSNL be asked to withdraw the scheme under which a cell user could send any number of SMS after paying Rs.750.The
state authorities received information that this facility was being misused by the vested interests during any turmoil or incidents.During that period these vested interests would float rumours by sending concoted versions of the incident to their friends relations and others through SMs.It is in this connection that the state authorities had requested the centre either to scrap this scheme or impose certain restrictions.Reports said that it took the Department of Telecommunications and the union Home Ministry two years to examine the state's request.The Telecommunications authorities acted but in a wrong way.Instead of either curtailing the use of the SMS services or withdrawing the scheme it imposed a blanket ban on the use of SMS .When in November the Department of Telecommunications imposed blanket ban on the pre-pid mobile services,under the instructions from the union Home Ministry,it took Chief Minister,Omar Abdullah,Union Minister for New and
Renewable Energy,Dr Farooq Abdullah,over a month to persuade the centre to withdraw the ban.The ban was ultimately lifted.That time even the strong protest lodged by the PDP patron and former Chief Minister,Mufti Mohd.Sayeed,and by the separatist leaders had no impact on the union Home Ministry.However,this time there was quick response from the Union Home Ministry and the Ministry of Telecommunications when the Chief Minister,Omar Abdullah regsitered a strong protest.He wanted the centre to treat any issue concerning Jammu and Kashmir with all the seriousness that it deserves.The reason was that both the union Home Ministry and the Department of Telecommunications had realised the futility of their order which banned SMS in Jammu and Kashmir.Mark the impact of the order under which prepaid mobile services were withdrawn.According to police officers,the operators,selling the pre-pid cell services,have again become reckless in the issuance of the
connection.There have been reports where individuals have secured more than one pre-paid cell connection.This has caused fears among the security agencies as they suspect that the spare connections may fall in the hands of the militants. Now that even the innocent people have come to know the rationale or lack of it behind the order banning SMS they may hence onward misuse the scheme by circulating rumours and by creating some scare through SMS.It is time for both the state authorities and those who matter in the centre that no hasty decision be taken as for as Jammu and Kashmir because every right or wrong action is greeted by equally wrong or right reaction in the troubled state.It is time the centre developed a cool mind towards Jammu and Kashmir so that there was neither any need or compulsion to withdraw an order within a few hours or its issuance.
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