Gujarat internet ban: Government sits pretty, says there are "no representations" against the decision

By A Representative
The Gujarat government appears to sit pretty, and is happy, that there is virtually “no protest” against its ban on mobile internet, continuing across the state since August 26, when violence broke out following the five-lakh-strong Patel rally for reservation in Ahmedabad. A senior Sachivalaya official told me that there has been “no representation” against the ban, despite isolated voices regarding e-business having been “adversely affected”, hence “why worry?”
In all likelihood, the ban would be lifted on midnight of August 31-September 1. A decision to this effect is learnt to have been taken at a meeting taken by chief secretary GR Aloria. “There was no violence on August 30, during the funeral of those killed in the violence, which we had to watch closely”, he told the meeting, “Hence, time has come to end the ban.”
A section of the state government officials, strongly supporting the ban, said it was “necessitated” because social media, especially WhatsApp and Facebook, spread violence across Gujarat, and WhatsApp groups like “Burn Police Station” were formed, which was “dangerous”.
A few other officials were more concerned about their children not being able to “study” with the help of internet as a result of the ban, and approached state home secretary PK Taneja to know when it was ending. Yet others said, the top cops of Gujarat fear riots would again erupt once social media sites begin functioning normally.
When contacted, former state IT secretary Ravi Saxena, a retired IAS bureaucrat, who has formed NGO Removing Ignorance for Social Empowerment (RISE), meant to advocate the concept of internet as a fundamental right, said he is in the “midst of studying the whole issue”, but refused to comment on the state government decision.
“Several countries”, said Saxena, “have sought to formally engage people through social media as one of the prime objectives. These formal engagements help them solve issues of violence, as and when they appear to raise their head. There is a need to explore this option.”
The only statement against the ban is by the Computer Education Association, the apex body of computer education organizations of Gujarat, which said, such banning steps cannot help curb protests. “There was no social media, yet protests erupted in the fight to independence, or against reservation in 1985. Students are unable to continue their studies, even fill up their forms online for admission”, the statement, issued by association chief Hemang Raval, said.
Well-known Delhi-based human rights activist John Dayal, a former journalist who has been with the National Commission of Minorities, did not know, even six days after the ban, that the state government has gone so far as to prohibit mobile internet in the wake of the Patel protests.
He said, “Forward me any story, if it has appeared”. He put a comment on Facebook, which reads, “Did the Gujarat government announce they had clamped on mobile internet, and Apps such as WhatsApp? My friends wonder why civil society has not made any noise about it so far, protested this censorship, which sometimes is imposed in the Kashmir valley.”
Except the lone voice of Father Cedric Prakash, a Gujarat-based human rights activist, who called the ban a “clear step towards Emergency”, the civil society as a whole did object to the ban. Damini Shah, who is with the Movement for Secular Democracy said, “For a few days it was necessary for peace, but after that it was curtailment to our freedom of expression.”
The business in Gujarat, dependent on e-commerce, is said to be losing heavily because of the ban. Yet, there is no protest from such bodies like Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) or the Gujarat chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).
The telecom industry in Gujarat alone is said to be suffering a loss of about Rs 5 crore per day, yet director of Department of Telecom (DoT), Gujarat, Rajeev Kushwah has been quoted as saying that he “supports” the ban. "We would like to contribute in every possible way to maintain peace in the state. It is more important than worrying over any loss incurred in the process," he said.
Interestingly, executives of mobile phone have been quoted as saying that no legal cover was provided while banning internet in Gujarat. The companies received notices asking for the suspension of mobile services from the district collector, Ahmedabad, and the district superintendent of police.
Last year, there were over 98 lakh internet users, and banking, trading, travel, manufacturing and other services are depend on internet connectivity. Minister of State for Home Rajnikant Patel told the state assembly that the government had imposed a ban on mobile Internet services “to contain rumour mongering”.

Comments

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Why Indo-Pak relations have been on 'knife’s edge' , hostilities may remain for long

By Utkarsh Bajpai* The past few decades have seen strides being made in all aspects of life – from sticks and stones to weaponry. The extreme case of this phenomenon has been nuclear weapons. The menace caused by nuclear weapons in the past is unforgettable. Images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from 1945 come to mind, after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the cities.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Modi’s Israel visit strengthened Pakistan’s hand in US–Iran truce: Ex-Indian diplomat

By Jag Jivan M. K. Bhadrakumar , a career diplomat with three decades of service in postings across the former Soviet Union, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey, has warned that the current truce in the US–Iran war is “fragile and ridden with contradictions.” Writing in his blog India Punchline , Bhadrakumar argues that while Pakistan has emerged as a surprising broker of dialogue, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain.

Lata Mangeshkar, a Dalit from Devdasi family, 'refused to sing a song' about Ambedkar

By Pramod Ranjan* An artist is known and respected for her art. But she is equally, or even more so known and respected for her social concerns. An artist's social concerns or in other words, her worldview, give a direction and purpose to her art. History remembers only such artists whose social concerns are deep, reasoned and of durable importance. Lata Mangeshkar (28 September 1929 – 6 February 2022) was a celebrated playback singer of the Hindi film industry. She was the uncrowned queen of Indian music for over seven decades. Her popularity was unmatched. Her songs were heard and admired not only in India but also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and many other South Asian countries. In this article, we will focus on her social concerns. Lata lived for 92 long years. Music ran in her blood. Her father also belonged to the world of music. Her two sisters, Asha Bhonsle and Usha Mangeshkar, are well-known singers. Lata might have been born in Indore but the blood of a famous Devdasi family...

'Batteries now cheap enough for solar to meet India's 90% demand': Expert quotes Ember study

By A Representative Shankar Sharma, Power & Climate Policy Analyst, has urged India’s top policymakers to reconsider the financial and ecological implications of the country’s energy transition strategy in light of recent global developments. In a letter dated April 10, 2026, addressed to the Union Ministers of Finance, Power, New & Renewable Energy, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and the Vice Chair of NITI Aayog, with a copy to the Prime Minister, Sharma highlighted concerns over India’s ambitious plans for coal gasification and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR).

Labour unrest in Manesar trigger tensions: Recently enacted labour codes blamed

By A Representative A civil rights coalition has expressed concern over recent developments in the industrial hub of Manesar in Haryana, where a series of labour actions and police responses have drawn attention. A statement, released by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR), said it stood in solidarity with workers in IMT Manesar and other parts of the country, while also alleging instances of police excess during ongoing unrest.

Search This Blog