Arvind Kejriwal launches Free WiFi scheme when there was temporary internet shutdown amid protests

Amid anti-CAA protests happening in the national capital, not only internet services but also voice and messaging services by telecom service providers- Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio were all temporarily shut down in parts of Delhi-NCR after strict instructions from the police department in the city.

Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal launched Delhi’s free WiFi scheme. The latest announcement was made through a live video on his official Facebook page.

“It is paradoxical that the day the free WiFi scheme is being launched, police has to shut internet services. I hope the situation will normalise soon and internet services will be resumed,” CM Kejriwal said at the launch of the scheme at an ITO bus stand.

Arvind Kejriwal (Credits: Indian Express)

He went on to urge the central government not to bring the law at this point of time. He said that the government needs to primarily focus on providing jobs to the youth. “I urge the central government with folded hands not to bring this law at this time,” he said.

Arcind Kejriwal also expressed concern that the law and order situation, not just in Delhi, but the entire nation was losing its value day by day.

“There is a fear among all the citizen, not just Muslims, that they will have to prove their citizenship and show documents. Seventy per cent people, specially poor, have no document to show and they fear that they will be evicted from the country, he said.

He stressed on the fact that Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is not going to achieve anything.

Kejriwal also highlighted that Aam Aadmi Party government has fulfilled all promises that it made with the citizens of Delhi in the 2015 Assembly elections.

“Delhi will become the first city in the world to have free WiFi services,” he said.

For the unversed, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also launched the scheme at Kashmiri Gate Metro station. The free Wifi service will be offered through over 11,000 hotspots at bus stands and other places, including markets and residential colonies.

Kejriwal said that over 100 hotspots were inaugurated and all the WiFi hotspots will be functional in the next six months.