Student bodies urge Govt to restore mobile net service
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 13 2023:
Six student bodies namely MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK, AIMS and another organisation reiterated its appeal to the state government to restore mobile internet service throughout the state with immediate effect in view of the inconveniences faced by people for a long time due to restrictions on mobile internet service.
According to a joint statement of the six student bodies, entire people of the state are well aware of insignificance of the ban on mobile internet service vis-a-vis the prevailing situation as the prohibition does not relate with heightening or reducing the ongoing violence.
The continuous ban on mobile internet service rather hampers educational activities in a big way, the joint statement said and urged the government to restore mobile internet service in view of huge losses suffered in business and other sectors.
Though the government periodically imposes ban on mobile internet service, wealthier section of the society have access to internet service through broadband service.
While rights of the common people to access internet service are being deprived for a long time, political figures, bureaucrats and influential section of the society are enjoying internet service by 'white listing' their mobile numbers and this system creates division in the society, the joint statement maintained.
The statement further pointed out that internet is becoming part and parcel of everyday life in contemporary society throughout the globe and it is not the right decision of the government to impose ban on internet for a long time as this will not only hinder development but also curtail the state's aspiration for joining the race for development.
Moreover, the prolonged ban on mobile internet service has not helped in bringing solution to the unrest situation in the state, the six student bodies said and asked the government as to how long the ban will continue for resolving the crisis.
While asserting that ban on internet could not bring solution to the present crisis as dimension of the violence could not be changed by internet ban, the six student bodies reminded the government to restore mobile internet service immediately so that suffering of the people could be lessened at least to certain extent.