Mobile Internet ban hits life in Gujarat

Businesses and public sector services across Gujarat were badly hit as the ban on Internet services —  especially 2G, 3G and mobile communication — remained suspended for the third day in a row. The ban is likely to be effective until Saturday in some volatile areas. According to mobile Internet users data, operators said there were over 98 lakh Internet users in the state as per last year’s records.

Banking, trading, travel, manufacturing and other services that depend on Internet connectivity were affected. Only broadband services have been working effectively. Minister of State for Home Rajnikant Patel stated in the assembly on Friday that the government had imposed a ban on mobile Internet services “to contain rumour mongering”.

Private service providers, like fuel stations, hotels, restaurants and all other sectors where the mode of transaction is dominated by credit or debit cards has been affected. The Public distribution System (PDS) has also been badly hit.

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The state government announced in its press release Thursday that the state government had decided to make online PDS manual.

Calls to G S Malik, state secretary for home affairs, went unanswered. Asked why were data services suspended and when would they be restored, Dhananjay Dwivedi, secretary science and technology, said the decision was not taken by the state government but by local administration and police.