Urges GoI to restore high speed internet in the UT
Srinagar Mar 26 : Jammu Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) President Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday urged the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister to restore high speed mobile internet, one of the prerequisites, in taking up preventive measures against the spread of Coronavirus-19 in Jammu and Kashmir.In a statement issued here, Bukhari observed that restoration of 4G mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir would enable people especially the students, businessmen and employeees to remain engaged inside their homes, thereby effectively containing the global pandemic COVID-19.He said that as COVID-19 spreads at an alarming rate, the public health officials, have called for minimal public gatherings—which is pushing many activities online. “The issue is particularly severe for schools, where the risk of spreading the disease is high. He said that since all schools, colleges and universities are closed as a result of novel coronavirus outbreak, millions of students are missing classes, creating an ‘unparalleled’ education disruption in the region. “Earlier our students missed classes due to disruptions created by August 5, 2019 decisions and now the novel corona virus outbreak has posed a serious challenge to our children to cope up with their counterparts in the country who enjoy all other educational facilities including high speed mobile internet,” Bukhari said, while demanding immediate restoration of 4G mobile internet services in J&K. Similarly, the JKAP president opined that the business community and a large section of the people who are working in the private sector are unable to do their businesses or duties as usual. Bukhari expressed hope that the restoration of high speed mobile internet will go a long way in easing out the situation not only for the home confined youth in their pursuit of career advancement as also in their academic odyssey but for the business community and vast majority working in the private sector.Bukhari also appreciated the measures for social distancing being put in place by the J&K administration and asked the people of the UT to abide by the directions in the larger interest of the society. He also stressed on the importance of the cooperation of the civil society with the administration in combating the Covid-19 virus.