Farooq Abdullah writes to PM Modi for restoration of 4G internet

‘People are being advised to work/study from home, but this is impossible with 2G speed’
Member Parliament and National Conference President, Dr Farooq Abdullah has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for restoration of 4G internet in Jammu and Kashmir, even as voices for it have gone shriller in the Valley in the wake COVID-19 scare. Abdullah, the Lok Sabha member from Srinagar, in his letter to PM Modi has sought restoration of 4G services in J&K at the earliest to “ease the suffering of the people”. “As you are aware, the first case of coronavirus has been detected in Kashmir yesterday, which has resulted in authorities locking down large parts of the Valley. Businesses and students already hit hard by the shutdown after 5th of August, 2019 are again suffering because of these restrictions,” reads the letter, which has been tweeted by JKNC twitter handle.This is first communication by Abdullah after his release from the seven-month long detention under Public Safety Act. “The people are being advised to work/study from home, but this is impossible with 2G internet speed and limited fixed line internet penetration. I would, therefore, request you to restore 4G internet services in Jammu & Kashmir at the earliest to ease the suffering of the people,” the letter added. A social media user, Mehreen said he has not been able to open the video regarding virus prevention. “How can preventive knowledge be spread when people including me are just uploading videos and no one can really watch them?,” he said, while urging restoration of 4G internet.A senior doctor from SMHS on the basis of anonymity said that Kashmiris were trying to find out information about the virus on Google but unfortunately they do not have the required internet access.The high speed mobile internet service remains suspended in the Kashmir valley since August 5 last year, when the Centre abrogated special status of Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into two Union Territories (UTs).