Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has appealed to the farmers’ union to protest peacefully at the Kisan Mahapanchayat in Karnal.
Ahead of the Kisan Mahapanchayat in Karnal district to protest the August 28 lathicharge on farmers, the Haryana government shut down internet services on Monday from 12.30 pm till Tuesday midnight to maintain law and order.
A government spokesman said there might be disruption to public safety, law and order and the move is aimed at curbing the misuse of SMS and social media “that may lead to the spread of rumours which have a clear potential to cause damage to public property and facilities.”
An order was issued by the Secretary of the state’s home department, based on Rule-2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.
In exercise of the powers to suspend mobile internet services (2G/3G/4G/CDMA/GPRS), all SMS services, including bulk SMS (except banking and mobile recharge) and all dongle services (except voice calls) have been suspended, the order stated.
Also read: “Godi Media Down Down”; News Anchors Face Ire Of Farmers At Mahapanchayat
In view of Kisan Mahapanchayat in Karnal, mobile internet & SMS services to remain suspended in Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, and Panipat tomorrow to curb "spread of inflammatory material and rumours": Haryana Govt pic.twitter.com/H4tBeGuUDJ
— ANI (@ANI) September 6, 2021
Besides Karnal, the Haryana government has also suspended internet and SMS services in four neighbouring districts, including Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind and Panipat districts, reports ANI.
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij appealed to the farmers to peacefully protest and gherao the mini secretariat of Karnal district. He said that routes have been diverted for the convenience of the people and sufficient forces deployed to take care of the situation.
Additional Director General of Police Navdeep Singh Virk has been ordered by Anil Vij to stay there and monitor the situation to end the event peacefully.
Responding to a question regarding the internet shutdown, Vij said that some mischievous elements take advantage of the situation under the guise of such programmes. Hence, the administration has to take precautions, he said.
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