Jammu, April 24: Senior Congress leader and former DDC Suchetgarh, Taranjit Singh Tony, on Friday mounted a scathing and aggressive attack on telecom operators, including BSNL, Airtel, Jio and others, accusing them of running what he termed a “well-organised loot of consumers” by charging for high-speed 5G services while delivering “miserable, outdated connectivity.”
In a strongly worded statement, Tony said the telecom situation in Jammu and Kashmir has deteriorated to an alarming level, with people facing relentless call drops, erratic signals, prolonged network outages, and internet speeds that “don’t even qualify as stable 4G, let alone 5G.” He alleged that despite aggressive marketing and rising tariffs, the actual service delivery on the ground remains “deeply compromised and shockingly poor.”
“This is not mere negligence; this is blatant exploitation. Telecom companies are extracting money from people under the false promise of 5G, but what they are delivering is buffering, failed calls, and frustration. It is nothing short of daylight robbery,” Tony said.
Highlighting the plight of rural and border areas, he said entire villages continue to suffer from negligible or zero network coverage, leaving residents cut off from basic communication. “People are forced to climb rooftops or walk long distances just to catch a signal. Students are unable to attend online classes, small businesses are struggling with digital payments, and in times of emergency, the lack of connectivity can prove life-threatening. This is a complete collapse of essential services,” he added.
Tony further alleged that telecom companies have deliberately ignored infrastructure expansion in rural belts while continuing to increase tariffs and push misleading advertisements about high-speed connectivity. “They are taking money for 5G but delivering 3G or unstable 4G speeds. Where is the infrastructure? Where is the accountability? This is a betrayal of public trust,” he said.
Taking a sharp dig at the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Tony accused the regulator of “total failure” and “criminal silence” over the issue. “TRAI has completely abdicated its responsibility. It is shocking that such blatant consumer exploitation is going unchecked. The authority must immediately intervene, conduct strict audits, and impose heavy penalties on telecom operators for misleading the public,” he asserted.
He also called upon the Jammu and Kashmir High Court to take suo motu cognizance of the matter, terming it a serious violation of consumer rights affecting millions of people. “When regulatory bodies fail, the judiciary must step in. The High Court should take notice of this widespread injustice and ensure accountability,” he said.
Warning of intensified public action, Tony said that if immediate corrective measures are not taken, the Congress party will be compelled to launch a mass agitation against telecom companies and regulatory inaction. “People cannot be treated as helpless consumers. They are being looted in the name of digital progress. If this does not stop, we will take this fight to the streets,” he warned.
“A country that talks about becoming a digital powerhouse cannot run on dropped calls and fake network promises. The system must be fixed immediately, or those responsible must face the consequences,” Tony added.