Chandigarh: The Haryana government has extended the ban on mobile internet and bulk SMS services in seven district of the stated till February 19 amidst farmers protest.
The internet has been banned in districts including Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. Earlier, the state government extended the suspension of mobile internet on February 13 and 15.
“After assessment of the current prevailing law and order situation in the state, the conditions are still critical and tense in the districts of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa,” said additional chief secretary of Haryana T V S N Prasad, while confirming the extension of the mobile internet ban.
“There is a clear potential of disruption of public utilities, damage to public assets and amenities and disturbance of public law and order in above-mentioned districts on account of misuse of internet services by way of spread of inflammatory material and false rumours,” he further added.
The order has been issued under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 and Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017.
As per the order, the suspension of the mobile internet services, bulk SMS (excluding banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services, provided on mobile networks except the voice calls in the jurisdiction of districts Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa has been extended till February 19.
Farmers from Punjab are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders in order to press the Centre to accept their demands.
The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) in their letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demanded a Minimum Support Price for crops based on the Swaminathan formula of C2 50 (input cost of capital 50%), legal guarantee of procurement, debt waiver, and no hike in electricity tariff and no smart metres.
Ms Kalinga