Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government, headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Tuesday approved provision of land for installation of mobile towers in underserved areas across the Union territory, aimed at strengthening high-speed telecom connectivity in remote and border villages.
Under the initiative, land has been approved for installation of BSNL mobile towers in underserved areas of Uri, Tangmarg, Karnah, Kalakote, Kralpora, Basantgarh, Khour, Latti Marothi, Banihal, Pogal Paristan, Ramsoo and Qila Darhal under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), an official press release in formed.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the initiative would help extend reliable connectivity to remote and border communities and ensure that geographical location does not become a barrier to access to digital services and opportunities.
He said the infrastructure is being developed under the USOF to expand 4G network coverage and achieve telecom saturation in underserved areas.
The initiative is expected to strengthen access to online education, e-governance services and emergency communications, besides improving digital inclusion for residents of rural, remote and border areas, an official spokesperson said.
The provision of dedicated land for telecom infrastructure is also aimed at facilitating faster deployment of mobile towers in difficult and geographically challenging locations, thereby helping bridge the digital divide across Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
The initiative reflects the government’s focus on extending the benefits of digital connectivity to communities in far-flung areas and strengthening communication infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir, he added.
Need to wait and see how far SC rectifies voter deletions: Abdullah
Says UCC will not be implemented in J&K ‘until it is implemented everywhere’
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s remarks questioning voter deletions under the Special Intensive Revision, but said it remains to be seen how far the court will go in rectifying it after taking responses from the Election Commission and the Centre.
Abdullah also said the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will not be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir as such a pan-India law ought to be debated and passed in Parliament.
“It is good that the Supreme Court is also raising questions now, especially regarding the deletions that took place from the voter lists. The Supreme Court has also sought responses from the Election Commission and the Government of India. To what extent this will be rectified through the court, we will have to wait and see,” Abdullah told reporters here.
Talking about the INDIA bloc MPs’ march to the EC office, he said, “This process will continue. We had been raising this issue repeatedly, but very few people paid attention. Now the media has also started speaking about it,” he said.
On the UCC implementation, Abdullah reiterated that a Uniform Civil Code is not truly “uniform” until it is implemented everywhere.
“We will not implement the Uniform Civil Code here. In Bihar as well, Nitish Kumar’s party has said they will not implement it. Similarly, other governments have said the Uniform Civil Code will not be applied in their states. So, this is only being implemented by the BJP,” he said.
“These matters are not handled from state to state. If you have the courage, bring legislation in Parliament. Debate it in Parliament, and then let’s see whether it passes in Parliament or not. They will not introduce this law in Parliament because they do not have the numbers in Parliament to get it passed. That is why, bit by bit, the BJP is implementing this bit by bit across their own states, which is wrong,” he added.
On the deportation of Bangladeshis from Jammu and Kashmir, the chief minister said foreigners entering India without authorisation cannot stay here.
“Looking at it practically, their presence here has not really caused us any particular trouble. However, it is also true that they cannot stay illegally,” he said.
Abdullah, however, sought to draw a distinction between illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingya refugees staying in India.
“Those who have entered from Bangladesh without authorization are a different matter altogether. But the Rohingyas are being needlessly targeted. When they were expelled from their country, we gave them refuge here, gave them a little space, and allowed them to stay here for the time being until conditions in their country improved. Now, suddenly taking action against them seems a bit strange to me,” he said.
The chief minister said he does not have jurisdiction over the issue as it falls under the Centre.
“This falls under the Government of India, and they are taking the assistance of the police for this. The police are not under our control either. So, it is better that you ask this question to those who have command over the police,” he said.
