The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday suspended mobile internet services around Delhi's Jantar Mantar for the fifth time since July 17.
The latest order from the MHA extends the previous suspension till midnight on Thursday, citing "public safety and averting public emergency" as the reason.
The order for an internet suspension within a 1.5-km radius of the Jantar Mantar was approved by the Union Home Secretary under the Telecommunication Act, 2023 and the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024.
This comes amid intensifying protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over accountability in education, particularly the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in connection with the NEET paper leak case.
The satirical collective has now called for a nationwide protest on Friday, and has also rejected four offers from the government to enter talks.
In the meantime, the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA) on Thursday issued an advisory suggesting that shops, offices, and restaurants in Connaught Place shut from 6.30 PM itself, in light of the protests.
"All establishment owners/occupiers are requested to cooperate and ensure strict compliance with the above directions to avoid any unpleasant situation and save yourself from any loss of property and injury," the NDTA advisory added.
Educational institutions such as Delhi University (DU) have also urged their students and faculty not to participate in the CJP's Jantar Mantar protests "to prioritise their safety and compliance with the law".
"Such activities can also pose serious risks to students’ personal safety and significantly impact their academic progress and professional opportunities," the DU advisory added.
The CJP, however, has reiterated multiple times that it would only enter talks with union ministers from a neutral venue, such as Jantar Mantar or Constitution Club, to which the Centre has not offered a response yet.
The CJP protesters have also claimed that the internet cuts have raised serious safety concerns for them, as it renders them unable to communicate with others or provide live updates of their protests.
The internet cuts have also been flagged by various civil rights groups, with the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) condemning the action and arguing that the shutdown was a breach of the Anuradha Bhasin and the Suspension Rules, 2024.
These rules emerged out of a Supreme Court case titled Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020), which held that the freedom of speech and expression, and the freedom to carry on trade or business through the medium of the internet, are protected under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.
However, it is being alleged that many of the internet cuts since July 17 have flouted these norms.
In that regard, it is yet to be seen whether the CJP protesters at Friday's nationwide protest will manage to stay safe if internet cuts extend into Friday, given the allegations of police brutality against them, and violent non-CJP protesters reportedly taking part as well.
