Mobile internet and bulk SMS services have been restored across seven districts of Haryana – Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa districts on Sunday. The restoration has been done after almost two weeks of suspension.
The mobile internet services were first suspended on February 11, which was later extended on February 13, 15, 17, 19, 20 and 21.
The Home Department issued an order regarding the mobile internet services suspension which stated that the curbs were imposed in order “to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in jurisdictions of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa, including Dabwali, districts in Haryana”.
Officials informed on Sunday that no fresh order has been issued in regards to the extension of the suspension of mobile services in the seven districts.
Residents welcomed the government’s decision with one saying, “Restoration of mobile internet services after a gap of several days is a big relief.”
Farmers’ ‘Delhi Chalo’ Protest
The ‘Delhi Chalo’ protest by farmers began on February 13 and is being spearheaded by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to build pressure on the Central Government to accept farmers’ demands which include a legal guarantee of minimum support price for crops, farm loan waiver, among others. The agitation has been paused till February 29, however, farmers will stay put at the borders of Punjab-Haryana borders.
The farmer leaders called for a pause in the agitation for two days on Wednesday after a protester was killed and around 12 police personnel were injured in the clashes at Khanauri. The next course of action will be decided by the farmers on February 29, they said.