Minutes after mobile internet services were restored after 76 hours in J&K, netizens logged in to social networking sites to vent their anger against the ban that literally choked life in Muslim-majority State on Eid-ul-Adha days.
Scores of netizens criticized the PDP-BJP government for imposing blanket ban on internet. A Facebook status of a user read: “Let PDP-BJP alliance get disconnected so that we could remain connected.”
What added to anger on social networking sites was a welcome note of Facebook that read: “Do you support Digital India. PM Modi is visiting Silicon Valley. Update your profile picture to show your support for transforming India into a digitally-empowered society.” The message had two options: Not Now and Yes, I am in.
“This is ridiculous. Our internet was snapped for three days and they (Facebook) seek our support for Digital India. I think PM Modi is not aware of internet ban in Kashmir,” read the FB status of Arif Manzoor.
The Facebook status of Saleem Bhat read: “Let us exchange Eid greetings today as e-curfew is over. Thanks to the government for taking the curfew to new heights.”
Many Facebook users took a dig at Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed through their status messages. “Hope CM Mufti won’t say he was not informed about ban. Let this government rot, anyways, happy Eid to all of us,” a Facebook user wrote on his wall.
Another Facebook user wrote: “Great news, virtual execution of Kashmir ends. Internet is back and Bronze Age is over.”
The status of yet another Facebook user read: “Welcome back to Facebook as stone age is over.”
Many social media users criticized the Prime Minister’s tour to Silicon Valley. “Your digital vision is locked in Kashmir Modiji,” a user wrote.
Gowhar Nazir, an MBA student, also updated his twitter handle, by posting this: “A shame for world’s largest democracy for bragging about digital India at a time when they blocked internet access to more than 10 million Kashmiris.”
