PDP protests pre-paid mobile phone ban in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 6 : The main Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today took to streets to protest the ban on pre-paid mobile phone services in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the decision cast a shadow of doubt on the entire population of the state.

PDP leaders and supporters, led by President Mehbooba Mufti, took to streets after failing to get any positive response from the Centre.

Raising slogans against the decision, the processionists marched through different streets from PDP headquarters to the historic Lal Chowk.

The march remained peaceful and the processionists dispersed later.

Ruling National Conference (NC) patron and Union Minister Farooq Abdullah and other mainstream parties have also criticised the ban on the services in the state.

Talking to newspersons, the PDP chief termed the decision ''anti-people''.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, who announced the ban on the pre-paid mobile services in the state, said there were reports that it was being misused by the militants.

He had directed all mobile service providers to withdraw the pre-paid facilities and not to extend any validity of any prepaid mobile connection after October 31.

Interestingly, all the mobile service providers extended the validity of all their products till January last week, irrespective their actual date of expiry.

Dr Abdullah had time and again announced that the ban was temporary.

PDP patron and former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said the decision to ban pre-paid mobile phone facility had not only serious socio economic implications but was an assault on the dignity and self respect of the people of the state.

He said shutting off pre-paid mobile facility to the state reflected a mindset that his party was struggling to change.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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