Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): For the first time in 74 years, Jammu and Kashmir administration today installed big screens at vital locations in Srinagar displaying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech live.
All the I-Day functions were carried out peacefully across the Valley including the one held in Srinagar where Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha unfurled the tri-colour in presence of all the top officers of the administration.
Officials said that projectors were installed at TRC crossing, Jehangir Chowk and other parts of Srinagar. “The PM’s speech was displayed live on the big screens. This was for the first time that PM’s I-Day speech was displayed live on big screens in Srinagar areas,” an official said. “Screens were fixed at various points in Srinagar,” the official said.
This was the first I-Day in J&K as a Union Territory. On August 5 last year, the Central Government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the erstwhile state into two Union Territories — Ladakh and J&K.
Meanwhile, 2G Internet services on all platforms were snapped for 5 hours across Kashmir today. However, voice calling wasn’t barred this time on the occasion of Independence Day.
Officials said that based on the security review meeting held on August 14, it was decided that mobile internet services (2-G) will be suspended across Kashmir but voice calling will be allowed. “Mobile internet services on all platforms remained suspended for five hours. Internet was snapped at 7am in the morning and was restored by 12 in the noon,” officials added.
“Internet was snapped as a precautionary measure and restored as well,” the official said. Notably, 4G internet services were snapped on August 4 last year and it has been more than a year now since the 4G internet services have been suspended across J&K.
-CHK
