The Supreme Court order on the restoration of internet and removal of curbs under Section 144 in J&K has prompted the Opposition to question the Centre’s claim of normalcy in the UT. They hailed the judgment as a “rebuff to the unconstitutional and arrogant” regime.

While the Congress said the SC has given a big jolt to the Modi Government’s “illegal activities” by ruling that access to the internet is a fundamental right and that dissent cannot be oppressed by imposition of prohibitory orders, Left parties said the judgment belie the claims of normalcy that the Central Government has been peddling in the country and the world.

The National Conference too expressed hope that the restoration of mobile internet services will help ease the situation in the Union Territory.

“The SC order is a rebuff to the unconstitutional and arrogant stance of the Central Government and the J&K administration on the restrictions imposed in J&K,” former Home Minister P Chidambaram said. He demanded that the entire team in J&K that designed and executed “the plan” be changed and a new set of administrators who respect the Constitution be appointed.

“The former Governor of J&K, Satpal Malik, should own responsibility and resign from his present post of Governor, Goa,” Chidambaram said in a tweet. Senior lawyer and Congress Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal termed as “path-breaking” the observation of the SC that Section 144 cannot be used indefinitely to suppress freedom of speech and expression and difference of opinion.

“I want to ask the Prime Minister that why do you have so much affection with foreigners and why not with the people of India. At least, you should be more transparent and open with the people of India,” Sibal said at AICC Press conference.

“This is a very important order. It is a historic verdict that has been pronounced by a 3-judge Supreme Court Bench and this will ensure free flow of information from Kashmir. It is historic because the people of India were concerned about the Jammu & Kashmir situation as no one knows about it,” Sibal said.

Sibal also sought to know from Home Minister Amit Shah as to what was the emergency on August 4, 2019, that Internet service was suspended from August 5 “without any reason”.

“The power under Section 144 CrPC cannot be used to suppress legitimate expression of opinion or grievance or exercise of any democratic rights,” he said.

“The Supreme Court has made significant comments on the curbs on civil liberties in Jammu & Kashmir which belie the false claims of normalcy that the Central Government has been peddling to the country and the world,” the CPI(M) said in a statement. It further said the Government tried to reinforce the official claims of normalcy by taking a group of foreign envoys on a “farcical” restricted tour to J&K where they were allowed to see and hear only what the Government wanted them to, which is why none of them could meet the three former Chief Ministers still in jail.

“When five months after the lockdown, political leaders, MPs and parties representing the people of this country are virtually banned from visiting Kashmir, such a tour is insulting to India’s Parliament,” the Left party said.

The party demanded the Government remove all such restrictions, fully restore Internet services, lift prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC and protect the democratic rights to Freedom of Speech and Expression of the people of Kashmir.

National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana said the communication clampdown has hugely impacted the people of Jammu & Kashmir in general and those engaged in trade, commerce, industry and academics in particular.

The NC leader expressed hope that the restoration of mobile Internet will go a long way in easing out the situation, saying the curbs have taken toll on youths in their pursuit of career advancement as also in the academic odyssey of vast mass of students.

“We will continue to remain in the forefront to shoulder our responsibilities and play historic role towards dignified life of the people and for lasting peace in Jammu & Kashmir,” Rana said.