Instead of criticising India for imposing internet shutdowns in J&K, TRT World should appreciate the country’s ability to bring much needed peace and development in the Union Territory

Claim:

TRT World in a write up on April 30 said: For the fourth year in a row, the largest number of internet shutdown incidents were documented in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir and around the Farmers’ Protests, followed by Myanmar. Internet shutdowns made a comeback in 2021, with India responsible for more than half of them.

Counterclaim:

The Turkish public broadcaster has its editorial team filled with journalists who are blind to ground reality in Jammu and Kashmir. It is border region of India where Pakistan since 1989, is pushing on drugs, money and armed terrorists to kill, sabotage and disturb peace and stability. Under its strategy of making Jammu and Kashmir an international flashpoint, Pakistan has over the years mentored separatist groups, brainwashed youth and trained hard core Islamic groups in terrorism against India and its economic, strategic and geographical interests.

In the pre-370 Article days, a dangerous cocktail of religion, separatism and terrorism had made Jammu and Kashmir a killing field where innocents were slaughtered, non-Muslims were targeted, security forces were attacked and ISIS flags were waved in wanton display of anti-India behaviour. In this background, the internet played a stellar role in maximising the activities of elements who were desperate to foment violence and mayhem in the region through social media tools. Knowing beforehand consequences of false, manipulated and groundless information disseminated through social media and its impact on the law-and-order management in Jammu and Kashmir, the government resorted to internet shutdown in August 2019.

However, by October 14, 2019, the post-paid mobile services were restored and by January 15, 2020, broadband services for essential purposes were re-established. 4G internet services were restored in Ganderbal and Udhampur of Jammu and Kashmir on August 16, 2020 and by February 5, 4G internet services were resumed in the entire Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. In brief, internet shutdown was undertaken to protect India from Pakistan-sponsored savagery.

Claim:

TRT World said: Most of the shutdowns were imposed to silence critical voices or control the flow of information during elections and in active conflict areas.

Counterclaim:

The Turkish public broadcaster appears to be presenting such a narrative out of its own experience in Turkey where President Erdogan, ruling since 2002, has shown contempt for political rights and civil liberties. In 2016, after terrorist attack in Ankara killed 32 people, several cities across the country witnessed internet shutdowns. Millions of people were affected by this measure. However, it was not the first and last incident of internet shutdowns to plug the source of dissemination of information in the country. Social media and mainstream media censorship is a regular feature of the Erdogan government’s clampdown measures against his critics. Therefore, TRT World should fairly speak about it before attacking India for internet shutdowns in Jammu and Kashmir.