Srinagar, Sept. 28 (The Telegraph): Netizens enraged by the three-day Internet blockade in Jammu and Kashmir during the Id-ul Zuha festival are mocking Narendra Modi's "digital India" drive in the US.

"Oh the irony of listening to the PM talking about digital India while we in J&K spent 3 days totally disconnected due to his party & allies," tweeted former chief minister Omar Abdullah.

Many people, including separatist activists, did sacrifice cattle during the festival despite a recent high court order to the state to enforce a decades-old ban on beef.

The blockade coincided with Modi's "digital India" campaign in the US at which he said that what mattered these days was not "whether you are awake or asleep but whether you are online or offline".

Omar's father, Farooq Abdullah, termed the measure draconian. He questioned how the government could impose such a blockade when it claimed to have restored normality in the state.

"Internet ban has hit hard our hotelier, houseboat owner, poor shikarawallas," Farooq rued.

The Doctors' Association of Kashmir president, Nissar-ul Hassan, said the blockade was the "worst form of human rights violation" and smacked of India's double standards.

"India is befooling the international community by such campaigns while it is imposing severe restrictions on communications here," he said.

Like many other sections of society, doctors and patients suffered immensely because of the Internet ban, Hassan said.

"Gag on Internet was unethical as patients were denied access to medical services.... This autocratic step is a testimony to the fact that Kashmir is a big jail where people are caged and deprived of all rights."

The ban hit businesses as well. Officials of the Kashmir Hotel and Restaurant Federation pitched their losses at Rs 40 crore.

The ruling BJP defended the decision, saying it had been necessary given the threat to law and order in the festival season.

"Omar Abdullah's government existed only on Twitter and not on ground," said the BJP's Valley spokesperson, Khalid Jahangir.

"The fact is Omar himself imposed ban on Internet on several occasions and we also did it to ensure nobody disturbs peace in the state."

Omar frequently put curbs on the Internet during his tenure but is now at the forefront of criticising his rivals for imposing similar restrictions.

Photo credit: The Telegraph