‘Restore 4G Internet Services in J-K For People to Work From Home,’ Farooq Abdullah Writes to PM Modi

Farooq, who was last week released from a seven-month-long detention, said in the letter to PM Modi that businesses and students have already been affected by the shutdown after August 5, 2019 and are again suffering because of these restrictions.

New Delhi: As the Central government has asked people to work from home in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to immediately restore high-speed 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir. He wrote to PM Modi for the 4G internet services so that people in the valley can work from home.

“As you are aware, the first case of coronavirus was detected in Kashmir yesterday which has resulted in authorities locking down large parts of the valley,” Farooq Abdullah wrote in his letter to PM Modi.

Farooq, who was last week released from a seven-month-long detention, said in the letter to PM Modi that businesses and students have already been affected by the shutdown after August 5, 2019 and are again suffering because of these restrictions.

“The people are being advised to work/study from home, but this is impossible with 2G internet speed and limited fixed line internet penetration. I would, therefore, request you to restore 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir at the earliest to ease the suffering of the people,” he said further in the letter.

Apart from Farooq, a number of other leaders in the valley have also voiced the same concern for restoration of high-speed 4G internet services on mobile phones in Jammu and Kashmir.

Prior to his, the internet services were suspended in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5 last yearafter the central government revoked Article 370.

Though the 2G services on post-paid mobile phones and Broadband and lease-line services were restored months later, the 4G services continued to remain suspended in the valley.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, the National Conference has also suspended all its political activities in Kashmir.

Asking party people, to lend help to the administration in spreading awareness about proper sanitation and social-distancing guidelines, the NC asked its activists to avoid visiting the residence of party chief Farooq Abdullah.