2 weeks ago
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J&K Congress main Tariq Hameed Karra connected Sunday (May 10, 2026) termed the caller determination to heighten Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha’s powers successful the Union Territory’s telecommunications assemblage arsenic “another dent connected the antiauthoritarian governance mechanics of the elected authorities successful J&K”.
“The determination to manus sweeping telecom powers, including Internet shutdowns, interception, blocking of connection networks, and decryption authorization to the unelected powerfulness corridor of Jammu & Kashmir is yet different dent connected the antiauthoritarian governance mechanics of the elected authorities successful J&K,” Mr. Karra, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee president and legislator from Srinagar, said.
Mr. Karra said for years, promises were made astir restoration of trust, antiauthoritarian empowerment and strengthening of institutions successful J&K. “But specified moves lone reenforce the feeling that contempt an elected setup, existent authorization continues to stay concentrated elsewhere,” said the Congress leader.
National information and nationalist information are important, helium said, “But bonzer powers without antiauthoritarian accountability successful a portion that has already suffered repeated connection clampdowns rise superior argumentation concerns.”
“Democracy cannot beryllium restored politically portion governance continues to beryllium centralised administratively,” Mr. Karra said.
J&K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary was besides captious of the Centre’s move. “Handing implicit telecommunication to the L-G is yet different measurement — let’s spot what they do. We person seen galore specified moves before, and radical cognize good what was done during their reign,” Mr. Choudhary said.
A fewer days ago, the Union authorities vested the L-G with powers to enactment nether the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 successful situations concerning nationalist information and emergencies J&K.
Authorised to execute functions of the State authorities nether Section 20(2) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, the bid enabled the L-G medication to issue directions for interception of communication, monitoring telecom services, and temporarily suspending transmission wherever permitted nether law.
