The Union Home Ministry has ordered an extension of the ban on internet services in some areas of Punjab districts including Patiala, Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, till February 24. Earlier, the internet services were suspended from February 12 to 16 due to the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march.
In the latest order, it is mentioned that internet services will remain suspended in Shambhu, Julkan, Passian, Patran, Shatrana, Samana, Ghanaur, Devigarh, and Balbhera police station limits in Patiala; Lalru police station in Mohali; Sangat police station in Bathinda; Killianwali police station in Muktsar; Sardulgarh and Boha police stations in Mansa; and areas under Fatehgarh Sahib police station.
"In exercise of the power conferred by section 7 of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 read with Sub-rule 1 of Rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules 2017, and in the interest of maintaining public safety and averting public emergency, it is necessary and expedient to order, the temporary suspension of internet services from 00:00 Hrs on February 17, 2024 to 23:59 Hrs on February 24, 2024 in the following areas," the order read.
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The Centre suspended internet services in several Punjab districts using its special powers under the Telegraph Act of 1885. Meanwhile, the Manohar Lal Khattar-led Haryana government has also suspended internet services in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad, and Sirsa districts.
The farmers have been protesting for the past six days to press the central government to accept various demands including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.
Farmers are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pensions for farmers, farm debt waiver, the removal of police cases, and "justice" for victims of the Lakhimpur Kheri violence.