Srinagar:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said that the Home Ministry needs to re-look the issue of ban on pre-paid mobile connections in the state so that the genuine subscribers do not suffer.
Omar says Jammu Kashmir is not the only state with violence and he will work with the Home Ministry to evolve a system where pre-paid mobile services are used but necessary checks and balances are also in place.
"We were told that something like this was being contemplated, but even at that time we had advised that this measure would punish the genuine users for no fault of theirs, the only people who are at fault here are the service providers and the people who are supposed to do the verification for the issue of the SIM cards, a handful of people who are unable to conduct their responsibilities properly are ensuring punishment for people who have absolutely no fault," he says.
There are close to 40 lakh pre-paid mobile users in the state. The government has stopped the mobile services in the state due to security reasons. The total pre-paid market is 100 crore rupees
Omar's statement comes after Home Minister P Chidambaram clarified in his recent visit to Jammu that it was a well-considered decision and the concerns of the citizens will be reconciled with security considerations. He said that service providers had been told to come up with a new plan.
"The service providers will now meet the government and present a plan by which we can reconcile the security interests and the interests of the consumers. It may take a little time, but once we have in place a fairly secure system, then perhaps we can review the decision but for the time being that decision stands. It's a decision taken after most careful consideration and my judgement to that matter will have to be trusted by the people," P Chidambaram had said.