More than 27 million residents of the north Indian state of Punjab faced a third straight day without access to mobile internet or text messaging on Monday, after a state government order blocked the services as police search for a controversial separatist preacher.... [+]The shutdown, ordered by the government of Punjab on Saturday, has been extended multiple times from its initial 24-hour run on Saturday and will remain until noon Tuesday.
The shutdown was enacted under an Indian law that allows national or state government officials to order temporary suspensions during a public emergency. It comes after Punjab police launched a manhunt to arrest Amritpal Singh, a controversial Sikh preacher with alleged links to the Khalistani separatist movement which seeks to establish a separate homeland for Sikh people.defended the shutdown, claiming it is used to prevent public unrest and the spread of rumors, misinformation and fake news.shared by the preacher’s followers on Twitter and Facebook before the internet ban was ordered on Saturday afternoon.
So much for democracy….what India needs is 1A and 2A rights! Power to the people. Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights!
Sad state of a supposed democracy where free speech should be allowed