Government of India orders temporary internet shutdown in parts of Delhi as farmers’ protest turns violent

According to a news report, the government of India ordered for internet services to be suspended in parts of the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) as protests led by farmers in several locations in the NCR turned violent. The order for the shutdown, which was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, was set to last until midnight on26 January 2020. Tens of thousands of farmers who had mobilised themselves and were seen atop tractors and wielding sticks and clubs clashed with police. The protests, which reached a crescendo, have been ongoing over the past two months, with the farmers demanding a repeal of new agricultural laws. The government has justified the shutdown by saying that it was necessary in the interest of maintaining public safety and preventing any emergency situation in the country.