SC order on JK Internet ban gives fresh ammo to opposition parties to target govt

The Supreme Court order on Internet ban in Jammu and Kashmir provided fresh ammunition to opposition leaders for renewed offensive against the government as they hailed the judgement as a "rebuff to the unconstitutional and arrogant" regime and which "belies false claims of normalcy" in the newly-carved out union territory.

A five-judge bench of the apex court declared Internet as a fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression and asked the administration of the UT to review within a week all orders imposing curbs in Jammu and Kashmir, including the 160-day-old net ban.

Terming the order as a "big-jolt" to the central government, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said truth cannot be hidden any longer in "sealed envelops" and added that the apex court expressed displeasure over the Modi government's refusal to show its orders on Internet ban which was an "extraordinary measure".

In a tweet, he said the Supreme Court had delivered "first big jolt of 2020 to illegal activities of Modi Govt by stating importance of internet as a fundamental right. Double shock for Modi-Shah that dissent cannot be oppressed by imposing section 144.

"Modiji reminded that nation bows before Constitution and not him!"
Former state finance minister Altaf Bukhari, who has initiated a political outreach in the union territory, also welcomed the verdict and said "the apex court's verdict has given a sigh of relief to the people of Jammu and Kashmir who have tremendously suffered because of communication blockade in last over five months."
It further said that the government tried to reinforce the official claims of normalcy by taking a group of foreign envoys on a farcical restricted tour to J-K where they were "allowed to see and hear only what the government wanted them to, which is why none of them could meet the three former chief ministers still in jail."