Mahajan clears mobile buzz for J-K on Baisakhi

The government has finally given a go ahead to the mobile telephone service in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Announcing this in the Rajya Sabha today, Tele Communications and Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan said the cellular services to be launched on Baisakhi day — April 14 — would be made available in Jammu, Katra (Vaishno devi Shrine route) and Srinagar city.

Mahajan said the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had given permission for the launch two months ago but it had been held up due to security reasons. The government had earlier held the view that cellular phones could be misused by militants in the state. However, J&K CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed recently pleaded with the Centre for quick launch of the mobile telephone services in the state.