On a self-imposed trial of three months, the Mehbooba Mufti government in Jammu and Kashmir has gone for what it believes to be a slam dunk. It has banned 22 social media platforms for a month or "till further orders". This adds to the other ban on 3G and 4G cellular internet services that was imposed around the middle of this month following heightened student unrest. Together, the internet blackout is expected to break the back of the anti-government movement by blocking out information that presumably helps congregation on the streets and the spread of ill will. The ruling Peoples Democratic Party's coalition partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party, which also heads the government at the Centre, obviously concurs with the move that it says is for "betterment". However, both the state and Central governments appear to have missed the wood for the trees as usual. They are so focused on finding ways to control the crowd, to keep the streets clear and to keep students inside educational institutions that they have once again failed to acknowledge the reason why the streets in Kashmir are perennially filled with mobs of young boys, and now girls as well. They are there because they are angry, and they have no better way to show their anger than pelt stones at the police and army who are symbols of the government that has betrayed their trust.

Any sensible, sincere government would try to get to the root of this anger. Instead, what the government has done before, and is doing now again, is add to this anger. The blocking of the internet - which has become a regular occurrence in the Valley - and the social media platforms will be construed by the people of Kashmir as another example, among innumerable others, of the government denying them a right which is inalienable to any citizen of India, especially of a 'digital India'. Not only that. While denying the people this fundamental right to freedom of expression, the government will also be ensuring that the only way they vent their feelings is through a volley of stones. Curiously, the government seems intent on following this policy despite there being veritable proof of its lack of success. Neither blocking messaging services nor suspending the internet has previously allayed the public mood or helped improve the situation in Kashmir. In any way, bans should not be made to masquerade as policy.