Policy needed to regulate shut down of mobile networks: Panda

Forced shut down of mobile and broadband services in various parts of the country have caused a loss of Rs 650 crore last year and the government must come out with policy guidelines to regulate such restrictions, a BJD MP said today.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Lok Sabha, Baijayant Panda said no agency or services provider should be allowed to abruptly suspend mobile services as it caused imense hardship to people and exceptions should be allowed only in cases of security considerations.
He said the Centre and the states should come out with guidelines to regulate enforced shut down of mobile and internet services.

In case such shut down of the services is required due to security issues, Panda said State Police Chiefs should be empowered to enforce it for short periods and clearence by state cabinets should be made mandatory if the restrictions are required for longer period.
"The country lost Rs 650 crore because of forced shut down of mobile and internet services," said Panda.
Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had suspended all internet services for several months to quell the protests following the killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani in July last year.

Raising another issue, BJP member from Bihar Chhedi Paswan demanded inclusion of Bhojpuri language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution, saying the language is spoken by 25 crore people.

He said Bhojpuri was even spoken by large number of Indian-origin people in countries like Mauritius and Surinam.
Sushil Kumar Singh, another BJP MP from Bihar, made a strong pitch to include Magadhi language in the 8th schedule of the Constitution. He made the demand speaking in Magadhi, drawing applause from a number of MPs as well as Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
RJD's Shailesh Kumar, a member from Bhagalpur, sought a financial package for Bihar saying the state was facing severe funds crunch and the Centre must provide the required assistance.