When is the net ban going to be lifted : Question that has gone viral
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: June 13, 2025 -

Net ban, net ban. When is it likely to be lifted or the more direct poser 'when will the ban be lifted?'

Questions which have gone viral, not on the social media, but verbally and during any personal interaction.

The questions are all that more so to media professionals, people who are deemed to be in touch with those who call the shots but like everyone else in Manipur or more specifically in the valley districts where the current net ban has been imposed, the answer is - no one knows including the journalists.

The importance of the posers mentioned here however should be noted, particularly by the suited, booted class, who come under the 'white listed' category and do not get to experience what net ban actually entails.

The internet is not only about browsing the social media- including platforms like Facebook, X formerly Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram etc, but is also a tool to get done so many other crucial things, such as booking an air ticket or sending money via UPI payment to children studying outside the State, logging in for reading material especially for candidates preparing for competitive examinations etc.

This has however not cut ice with the white listed officials who call the shots and decide whether the ordinary folks should get access to internet connectivity to do what is of utmost importance to them or let them reel under utter indifference or the failure of the Government.

And this is perhaps where questions may be raised on how suspending the internet has been able to help restore normalcy?

If this is the case, then Manipur would not have burned for over 730 days on the trot.

One wonders whether the suited, booted class of officials had given any serious thought to this fact or not while deciding the internet ban.

Or is it a case of telling the people that since the Government cannot control the situation as social media platforms are being used to spread hate messages, then the people should be deprived of the right to use the medium?

The answer could lie anywhere in between and even as the Government may be questioned on its decision to ban the internet, questions also ought to be raised to the people on whether their conduct and act of violence is responsible for the net ban.

The need to be responsible, this is the crux and the term responsible in this case should apply to both the Government, the people and the different CSOs which seem to know which button to press to lead the common people.

For 120 hours or five full days, Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur have been digitally cut off and it should be obvious to everyone that the stakeholders have refused to learn anything since the evening of May 3, 2023.

Other than the CPI no other political parties have deemed it fit to state their position on the ongoing net ban and this should say something profound.

On the contrary, the focus of almost all the 59 MLAs seems to be on Government formation or the return of a popular Government.

The choice of words used by some elements in calling for the return of a popular Government is also there for the people to know but is this helping the cause of Manipur in any way?

The answer is out there and a look back at the days since the evening of May 3, 2023 and the emergence of different power players since then should say something significant.

So even as the dusts kicked up from the earth piled up in the middle of the roads continue to kick up severely inconveniencing the public, the clamour for Government formation continues to kick up its own version of 'dust.'

The days ahead do not look good for Manipur and one just has to look at the appeal issued by the Co-ordinating Committee on Disturbance Free Educational Zone Demand to let the 6th Semester Exam of Manipur University be held without disturbance should say something profound.

Digest this to get a better understanding of the reality.