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As the final five phases of polls draw closer, rift among <keyword id="20101713" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="INDIA-bloc-partners" source="keywords">INDIA bloc partners</keyword>, <keyword id="21533469" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress-Left-combine" source="keywords">Congress-Left combine</keyword> and the <keyword id="19942089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TMC" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="TMC" meta.hostid="153" meta.entityid="TMC">TMC</keyword>, which are fighting separately has intensified, triggering a fierce contest across half of the remaining 36 constituencies in West Bengal driven by local issues such as <keyword id="20074422" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sandeshkhali" source="keywords">Sandeshkhali</keyword> and the SSC scam. TMC's decision to contest independently in the state, rather than as part of the bloc, has led to a three-way contest, with the other contenders being the BJP and the Congress-Left alliance. Nevertheless, both TMC and Congress have asserted that they are part of the INDIA bloc at the national level and are authentic representatives of the opposition front in Bengal. Political analysts suggest that without a dominant national narrative like national security after the 2019 Pulwama attacks, local concerns such as corruption allegations, the cancellation of School Service Commission (SSC) jobs, incidents in Sandeshkhali and implementation of the <keyword id="19965573" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Citizenship-Amendment-Act" source="keywords">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA) are altering election dynamics. Maidul Islam, a political scientist at the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, remarked, "Till a few months ago, it seemed the elections in Bengal will be a bipolar contest between the TMC and BJP. But with issues like corruption and Sandeshkhali gaining prominence, the Left-Congress alliance is fast gaining traction in several seats and turning the polls into a three-cornered contest in at least 18-20 LS segments." He said besides the two and three seats in Malda and Murshidabad districts, where TMC and Congress secured two each and the BJP one in 2019, there are 13 seats spread across South Bengal, where the TMC and the Left-Congress alliance are engaging in intense competition. "It's not that the Left-Congress will win many seats, but in segments where their vote share is above 10 per cent, there is a likelihood that they might influence the outcome, to the disadvantage of either the TMC or the BJP, if they manage to secure two per cent more votes," Islam added. According to sources in TMC and CPI(M), the electoral battleground extends beyond Malda and Murshidabad, encompassing Lok Sabha segments like Dum Dum, Srerampore, Arambagh, Hooghly, Howrah, Barrackpore, Bardhaman-Purba, Bardhaman-Durgapur, Bankura, Purulia, Tamluk, Kolkata North, and Jadavpur, all poised for a three-cornered fight. Notably, eight of these seats were won by TMC and the remaining by BJP in the 2019 parliamentary polls. "The shift in dynamics presents the Congress-Left alliance as a significant player, and its emergence complicates the electoral narrative, transcending the conventional TMC versus BJP dichotomy," political analyst Subhomoy Moitra said. While the Left Front is contesting 30 seats, the Congress has fielded candidates in 12 out of 42 seats. "We wanted an alliance with the Congress, but they were delaying the seat-sharing arrangements, so we decided to go alone. Now the Left-Congress alliance is helping the BJP by trying to eat into our votes," remarked TMC leader Santanu Sen. According to TMC leaders, the breakup of INDIA alliance in Bengal has both electoral advantages and disadvantages. "After the Left and Congress alliance fell apart in West Bengal in 2019, it had led to a four-cornered contest with BJP bagging the entire chunk of the anti-TMC votes in the state," they said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP bagged 18 seats and its vote share rose from 17 to 40 per cent. Meanwhile, despite a 3 per cent rise in vote share, the TMC lost 12 seats, dropping from 34 to 22. The Left drew a blank with a vote share decline from 24 per cent to 6 per cent, and the Congress lost two seats, shrinking its vote share from 9.5 per cent to 5 per cent and bagging just two seats. "Local issues such as corruption and SSC scam are helping the Left-Congress in the state as there is anger among a section of people against the TMC and also against the BJP over the perception of a tacit understanding," a TMC leader said. Analysts observe that <keyword id="43868" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="mamata-banerjee" source="Orion">Mamata Banerjee</keyword>'s intensified criticism of Left and Congress, accusing them of aiding BJP, and the ensuing sharp responses from CPI(M) and Congress, alleging a secret pact between TMC and BJP, as indicative of the growing significance of Left-Congress alliance. Data from various local elections and by-polls conducted after 2021 assembly elections indicate a shift in anti-TMC votes as there has been a resurgence of Left-Congress combine. Incidentally, the BJP had witnessed a decline in its vote share as compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha and 38 per cent in 2021 assembly polls. In 2023, violence scarred panchayat polls which covered nearly 70 per cent of the state's electorate, the TMC had bagged 51 per cent of votes whereas the BJP had bagged 22 per cent. The Left-Congress-ISF alliance had, however, bagged 23 per cent votes. The ISF this time, however, has decided to contest alone in 17 seats. Congress leader Suvankar Sarkar emphasized, "People are disenchanted with the TMC and the BJP, as they are both sides of the same coin. People are coming out in large numbers to support the Left-Congress candidates." CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty expressed confidence in the Left-Congress alliance's potential to deliver surprising results in the elections, claiming initial success in breaking bipolar politics in Bengal. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar downplayed the significance of the rift in opposition alliance and the three-cornered fight in various seats. "People know that BJP is only fighting TMC's misrule in Bengal. Those who want to vote against TMC, will vote for us only just like in the 2019 and 2021 polls," he said. Political scientist Biswanath Chakraborty suggested that TMC stands to gain the most from the three-cornered contest. In minority pockets, the Left-Congress alliance could dent TMC's vote base, potentially aiding BJP's prospects, he noted.

West Bengal Elections: Rift among INDIA bloc partners triggers three-cornered intense contests

<ul class="summary-list"><li>US Airman Aaron Bushnell lit himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in DC on Sunday.</li><li>He said he was protesting "the genocide of the Palestinian people."</li></ul>An active duty <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/us-air-force">US Airman</a> on Sunday died after he lit himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, DC, in an act of protest against the war in Gaza.Aaron Bushnell said in a live-streamed video on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/what-is-twitch">Twitch</a> that his decision was to "protest against the genocide of the Palestinian people," according to a censored <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/taliaotg/status/1761944158636331247">clip</a> of the stream that was posted on X by independent journalist Talia Jane.In the clip, Bushnell introduces himself as "an active duty member of the US Air Force," saying: "I will no longer be complicit in genocide."The US isn't taking part in the fighting in Israel's invasion of Gaza, but is a strong ally to Israel and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-air-force-member-set-fire-israeli-embassy-dc-died-rcna140455?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma&amp;taid=65dc883b27e4460001fdd2fe&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social">recently vetoed a United Nations motion</a> calling for a cease-fire.In the video, security and police were seen responding to Bushnell as he was engulfed in flames and screamed "Free Palestine."While some responding officers attempted to put the fire out with extinguishers, others could be seen in the video standing nearby with guns drawn and calling for the man to get on the ground.The US Air Force confirmed that the man was a genuine serviceman, <a target="_blank" href="https://taskandpurpose.com/news/man-sets-self-fire-israeli-embassy-air-force/">per the military news site Task and Purpose</a>. It did not confirm his name, though.Bushnell died late Sunday, per reporting by Jane. Early on Monday, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-air-force-member-set-fire-israeli-embassy-dc-died-rcna140455?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma&amp;taid=65dc883b27e4460001fdd2fe&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social">NBC News also reported the death</a>, citing a US official.NBC said that a formal notification would be made later, citing the need to formally notify Bushnell's family first.The Department of Defense referred Business Insider to the Air Force when reached with a request for comment. The Air Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

US Airman dead after lighting himself on fire in an 'extreme' act of protest against the war in Gaza

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Biden said that protests against the war in Israel haven't led him to reconsider policies.</li><li>He made the comment at the end of a surprise press conference on Thursday regarding campus unrest.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-threatens-us-support-for-israel-in-netanyahu-call-2024-4">President Joe Biden</a> said Thursday morning that the widespread college protests against the war in Gaza haven't led him to reconsider his policies in the region.Biden held an unscheduled press conference at the White House to address the growing number of protests and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nypd-columbia-university-students-protesters-hamilton-hall-arretsts-2024-4">university encampments</a> across the nation in opposition to Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip.Biden spoke for just under four minutes, explaining the protesters' rights to free speech and assembly while emphasizing what he said were the limitations of those rights."Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations. None of this is a peaceful protest," he said. "Dissent is essential to democracy, but dissent must never lead to disorder or to denying the rights of others," Biden added.Just before Biden walked away from the podium, a reporter asked if any of the protests had forced him to reconsider his policies relating to the conflict. "No," Biden quickly replied.He also said he didn't think the National Guard should be called in.Members of the House of Representatives addressed the rising campus unrest on Wednesday with the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/which-house-democrats-republicans-vote-against-campus-antisemitism-ihra-bill-2024-4">Antisemitism Awareness Act</a>, which passed in a bipartisan landslide vote.

Biden says campus protests haven't led him to reconsider his stance on Israel

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The "Barbie" cast, including Margot Robbie, surprised many by wearing black to the Oscars. </li><li>Fans wondered if the cast was protesting Robbie and director Greta Gerwig's snubs by the Academy.</li></ul>As the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oscars-recap-winners-photos-biggest-moments-2024-3">night of the Academy Awards</a> neared, the question on everyone's lips seemed to be the same: What will Margot Robbie wear?The "Barbie" star has become a red-carpet darling since the movie's campaign began with its summer 2023 release. Robbie has repeatedly made headlines over the last eight months with her bright-pink ensembles and designer looks that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/margot-robbie-barbie-outfits-ranked-2023-7">recreated iconic Barbie outfits</a>. So many were confused when Robbie arrived at the Oscars on Sunday night in a simple black, strapless Versace dress.<div type="image" title="Margot Robbie in a black strapless dress." height="2000" width="1333" msid="108413310" hostid="261" sizebytes="182018"></div>And she wasn't alone in her dark color choice. Fellow "Barbie" stars Ryan Gosling, Kate McKinnon, and Simu Liu <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oscars-what-the-barbie-cast-wore-margot-robbie-ryan-gosling-2024-3">wore all-black suits</a>, while Issa Rae opted for an AMI Paris gown made of a deep-green fabric.Some Oscar viewers immediately took to social media to question if Robbie and the cast protesting were the fact that she and director Greta Gerwig hadn't been nominated for their respective categories. Others wondered if the cast was mourning the end of the "Barbie" era.<div type="image" title="Ryan Gosling in a black suit." height="2000" width="1333" msid="108413311" hostid="261" sizebytes="92128"></div>As <a target="_blank" href="https://pagesix.com/2024/03/10/style/margot-robbie-is-the-anti-barbie-in-black-gown-on-oscars-2024-red-carpet/">Page Six</a> first noted, comments flooded a post on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C4Wf69agSQZ/?hl=en">Check The Tag's Instagram page</a> as fans questioned whether Robbie was sending a message with her stark-black dress."I think this dress is a protest against the Academy…all black, no accessories, hair and makeup very neutral," one person wrote."Black because she was snubbed. Take a stand girl! Don't give them what they want!" another added.But these fans were ignoring the fact that one <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-dressed-celebrities-stars-oscars-red-carpet-list-2024-3">"Barbie" star was wearing Barbie pink</a> — America Ferrera.<div type="image" title="America Ferrera attends the 2024 Oscars." height="2999" width="2000" msid="108413355" hostid="261" sizebytes="449154"></div>Ferrera, who received a supporting actress nomination for her work in the film, wore a Versace dress that sparkled from head to toe. According to ABC News' red-carpet show, the dress was made of pink chainmail and took 400 hours to make.It was a showstopping dress that finally gave Ferrera — who mostly wore black during the "Barbie" press tour — her big <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/oscars-fashion-red-carpet-outfit-hidden-details-2024-3">red-carpet moment</a>. And it was on the night of her first Academy Award nomination, a major career milestone vastly overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Robbie and Gerwig's snubs.Dubbed "BarbieGate" by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/2024-oscars-snubs-barbie-discourse-1235806764/">The Hollywood Reporter</a>, many fans were outraged that Gosling received a supporting actor nomination while Robbie, who plays the titular role, was ignored. They also questioned how Gerwig could be left out of the best director race when the movie garnered eight Oscar nominations and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/margot-robbie-does-not-think-there-will-be-barbie-sequel-2023-11">made over $1.4 billion</a>, breaking multiple box office records. The discourse became so intense that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hillary-clinton-barbie-greta-gerwig-margot-robbie-oscar-snub-2024-1#:~:text=Hillary%20Clinton%20offers%20her%20sympathies,so%20much%20more%20than%20Kenough'&amp;text=An%20icon%20in%20the%20shape,Gerwig%20amid%20their%20Oscars%20snubs.">Hillary Clinton even chimed</a> in with an Instagram post saying Robbie and Gerwig were "so much more than Kenough." Yet many seemed to forget that "Barbie" still earned America Ferrera her own noteworthy acting nomination. Only a handful of Latina actresses have been nominated for an Oscar, and none have ever won best actress.<div type="image" title="America Ferrera presenting at the 2024 Oscars with her &quot;Barbie&quot; costar Kate McKinnon." height="1333" width="2000" msid="108413356" hostid="261" sizebytes="128660"></div>Gerwig and Robbie still received nominations for best picture and adapted screenplay, yet Ferrera was asked to comment on their snubs while celebrating her nomination.So it seems the "Barbie" cast ensured that Ferrera finally had her well-deserved moment as she walked the red carpet on Sunday. And she shined as Rita Moreno, the first Latina to win an Oscar, paid tribute to her onstage before the winner, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, was announced.<div type="image" title="America Ferrera at the 2024 Oscars" height="1333" width="2000" msid="108413357" hostid="261" sizebytes="198806"></div>"America, your powerful Barbie monologue is perhaps the most talked-about moment in the most talked-about movie of the past year," she said. "Your words and the passion with which you delivered them about the most impossible standards females must try to live up to galvanized not only women but everyone with a pulse."In her sparkling pink dress, it was finally Ferrera's turn to be Barbie.

The 'Barbie' cast wore all-black to celebrate America Ferrera, not protest their Oscar snubs

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Two protesters hurled soup at Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa in the Louvre Museum, Paris.</li><li>Bullet-proof glass protects the world-famous image. No damage has been reported.</li></ul>Two protesters hurled soup at the world-famous Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/01/28/mona-lisa-attack-soup-climate-protesters-louvre-paris/">Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece was left covered in what appeared to be tomato soup</a> while the protesters made a speech about sustainable agriculture and the food supply chain.The priceless artwork is protected behind a glass panel and the museum has not reported any damage so far.Videos on social media show the activists wearing T-shirts with the words "Food Counterattack" written on them in French. "What's the most important thing?" they shouted. "Art, or right to a healthy and sustainable food?" They added: "Our farming system is sick. Our farmers are dying at work."<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-farmers-maintain-protests-despite-government-concessions-2024-01-27/">French farmers have been protesting and threatening roadblocks around Paris</a> this month, demanding better pay and living conditions, Reuters reported.The 16th-century Italian Renaissance painting, one of the world's most recognizable artworks, holds the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/highest-insurance-valuation-for-a-painting">Guinness World Record for the highest-known painting insurance valuation in history</a>.It was valued at $100 million in 1962, equivalent to about $1 billion in 2023.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-creator-mona-lisa-stolen-louvre-museum-2023-paris-2023-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">Mona Lisa</a> has been the target of a number of protests and acts of vandalism over the years and has been <a target="_blank" href="https://harpersbazaar.com.au/mona-lisa-vandalism-incidents/">protected by bulletproof glass since the 1950s</a> after one person threw acid at it.In 2009, a "disgruntled Russian woman" who had been denied French citizenship also threw a ceramic mug at the painting, per Harper's Bazaar. The mug shattered after hitting the safety glass.In 2022, a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mona-lisa-pastry-cream-man-in-disguise-louvre-2022-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">man disguised as an elderly woman smeared a pastry on the safety glass</a> after failing to smash it.He threw rose petals around before being escorted out by security.On his way out, he told fellow museumgoers, "There are people who are destroying the Earth. Think about it. All the artists tell you think about the Earth, all artists think about the Earth, that's why I did this. Think about the planet."In 2022, anti-oil protesters targeted the UK's National Gallery, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/activists-throw-tomato-soup-van-gogh-painting-climate-protest-2022-10?r=US&amp;IR=T">throwing a can of tomato soup onto one of Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" paintings.</a>

Mona Lisa splattered in soup at Louvre Museum in Paris by food protesters

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The House passed a bill to crack down on antisemitism on college campuses.</li><li>70 House Democrats voted against it, including the longest-serving Jewish House Democrat.</li></ul>The House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday designed to crack down on antisemitism on college campuses.The bill sailed through by a 320-91 bipartisan vote, with 70 House Democrats and 21 House Republicans voting against it.Lawmakers who voted against the bill aren't necessarily supportive of antisemitism, or opposed to efforts to curb it. Rather, they had issues with the definition of antisemitism that the bill would mandate.The Antisemitism Awareness Act, led by Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York and cosponsored by 61 other lawmakers across both parties, would require the Department of Education to use definitions of antisemitism proposed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) when enforcing anti-discrimination laws.That <a target="_blank" href="https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism">IHRA definition of antisemitism</a> — alongside obvious instances of antisemitism — encompasses some criticisms commonly made against the State of Israel, including:<ul><li>Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor.</li><li>Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.</li></ul>That's led to concerns on the part of more progressive lawmakers that free speech norms could be violated, and that anti-Zionism or opposition to Israel could be conflated with antisemitism.On Wednesday, Rep. Jerry Nadler — the longest-serving Jewish House Democrat — spoke out against the bill on the House floor, arguing that the IHRA's definitions of antisemitism "may include protected speech in some contexts, particularly with respect to criticism of the State of Israel.""Speech that is critical of Israel alone does not constitute unlawful discrimination," said Nadler, arguing that the Department of Education already has the ability to investigate discrimination under current law.The vote took place on Wednesday as college campuses across the country have been <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/columbia-university-pro-palestine-israel-gaza-protests-timeline-2024-4">swept by pro-Palestinian protests</a>."Much of this activity, whether you agree with the sentiments expressed at these protests or not, constitutes legally protected speech," said Nadler. "Some participants shamefully have exhibited antisemitic conduct, and the Department of Education will rightfully investigate them."In December, Nadler also led 92 House Democrats in voting "present" on a GOP-sponsored resolution that <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/which-democrats-voted-against-antizionism-antisemitism-resolution-2023-12">equated anti-Zionism with antisemitism</a>. 13 House Democrats voted against the resolution outright.In an effort to avoid this split, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries <a target="_blank" href="https://democraticleader.house.gov/media/press-releases/letter-speaker-mike-johnson-bipartisan-countering-antisemitism-act">asked</a> House Speaker Mike Johnson to take up a separate bill — the Counter Antisemitism Act — which would include establishing a National Coordinator to oversee an Interagency Task Force to Counter Antisemitism in the White House.Republicans had their own issues with the bill. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia said that she would vote against the bill because it "could convict Christians of antisemitism" for believing that Jewish people played a role in the killing of Jesus Christ — a notion that the Catholic Church has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2011/03/04/134264425/Pope-Jews-Are-Not-Responsible-For-Killing-Jesus">refuted since the 1960s.</a>It's unclear when — or if — the bill will be taken up in the Senate, where the bill has 30 cosponsors, roughly half of whom are Democrats.Here are the 91 lawmakers who voted against the bill, with Democrats listed in italics:<div type="image" title="The 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans who voted against the antisemitism bill in the House." height="1302" width="1920" msid="109763859" hostid="261" sizebytes="97574"></div>

These 70 House Democrats and 21 Republicans voted against a bill to crack down on antisemitism on college campuses

<ul><li>The Indian government has been shutting down internet services in select parts of the country amid protests against the <keyword id="6564012" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="citizenship-amendment-act">Citizenship Amendment Act</keyword> (CAA).</li><li>The internet shutdowns have led an outcry from human activists that such measures aren’t coming down through the ‘right channels’.</li><li>The accelerated pace and expanse of the internet shutdowns also has China citing India as ‘setting an example’.</li><li>Businesses aren’t immune to the effects either as many online retailers rescheduled orders or reported a dip in sales.</li></ul>Amid the protests, violence and discord over India’s newly formed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), authorities have been shutting down access to the internet in selected areas to control the situation. When the internet isn’t being shut down, it’s at least being slowed down — known as throttling. Human rights activists claim that the order did not come down the ‘right channels’ making the entire exercise ‘illegal’. 
 <div type="image" title="protest2_edited" msid="72931875" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Throngs of anti-CAA protests outside the Red Fort in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 It can only be ordered by a competent authority like Union home secretary or state home secretary, but this order was not issued by them," technology lawyer Mishi Choudhary told <a href="https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/delhi-internet-shutdown-did-not-come-via-right-channel-digital-right-activists/72897911">ET</a>. And, this is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/internet-shutdowns-in-india-have-skyrocketed-but-now-the-indian-government-wants-that-to-stop/articleshow/67178243.cms">not the first time</a> that the government is being accused of using <keyword id="991379" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Internet-shutdown">internet shutdown</keyword> as a ‘quick fix’ solution for ‘potentially’ volatile situations. 
 <div type="image" title="protest6_edited" msid="72931857" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Phone with postpaid connections finally get network access in Kashmir on 14 October 2019 after 71 days of an internet shutdown&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 In fact, India has turned so infamous for it during the last few months that China — known for its strict surveillance of online activity — is citing India as an example. India’s internet shutdown shows normal practice for sovereign countries," said an editorial by Qing Qiu in <a href="http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1217/c90000-9641267.html">People’s Daily</a> — China’s largest newspaper and a controlled entity of the country’s ruling party. Internet shutdown capital of the world The government is allowed to sanction an internet shutdown in the case of a public emergency under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017. The problem is that internet shutdowns have become so common in India that it now has a reputation for being the ‘<a href="https://www.livemint.com/mint-lounge/features/inside-the-internet-shutdown-capital-of-the-world-11575644823381.html">internet shutdown capital of the world</a>’. Kashmiris had to endure a four-month-long shutdown while the networks in Assam and parts of West Bengal were sporadically cut and activated. 
 <div type="image" title="protest7_edited" msid="72931888" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Parts of Kashmir remain under curfew and internet black out&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 Since 2012, the internet has been shut down in India a total of 375 times and most of them have occurred during the last two years — 134 in 2018 and 103 in 2019. It means that shutting down the internet in a state of emergency should be standard practice for sovereign countries," according to the <a href="http://en.people.cn/n3/2019/1217/c90000-9641267.html">People’s Daily</a> editorial. Impact of internet shutdowns The damage of an internet shutdown isn’t restricted to missing messages on WhatsApp or an update on Instagram either. Although, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did ironically try and send out a tweet his ‘brothers and sisters in Assam’ when it was under an internet blackout. 
	<div type="twitter" handle="narendramodi" handlename="Narendra Modi" image="http://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1134082549041393672/QbihPzrL_normal.png" favoritecount="77241" retweetcount="15350" status="I want to assure my brothers and sisters of Assam that they have nothing to worry after the passing of #CAB. I wa… https://t.co/VPsj5t5opd" createdat="1576124902000" id="1204981291730341888"></div>



 Internet shutdowns are affecting businesses as well. Between 2012 to 2017, they cost the economy nearly $3 billion, according to an estimate by the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (<a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2018/apr/26/internet-shutdown-cost-indian-economy-usd-3-billion-from-2012-17-study-1806393.html">ICRIER</a>). This time around, food delivery apps like Zomato, Uber Eats and Swiggy saw their <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cabs-to-food-e-biz-hit-by-internet-shutdown/articleshow/72920805.cms">volumes dip by 10 to 20%</a> in Delhi. Grofers, an online grocery delivery service, had to reschedule 20,000 to 25,000 of its orders in Lucknow. 
 <div type="image" title="protest1_edited" msid="72931915" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Traffic comes to half as roads get blocked by anti-CAA protestors in New Delhi&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div>



 In addition the effect on businesses, this might not be the best time for the Indian government to be exercising its power in such a way with the Personal Data Protection Bill underway. The bill is currently under discussion by a joint committee after being tabled in the Parliament in its last session. There are concerns that it has too many loopholes that will give the government access to user data in the name of ‘national security’ or a ‘public emergency’ — the very same reason used to justify the many internet shutdowns across the country. See also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/internet-shutdowns-in-india-have-skyrocketed-but-now-the-indian-government-wants-that-to-stop/articleshow/67178243.cms">Internet shutdowns in India have skyrocketed — but now the Indian government wants that to stop</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/All-the-countries-where-someone-managed-to-shut-down-the-entire-internet-160and-why-they-did-it/articleshow/70009168.cms">All the countries where someone managed to shut down the entire internet - and why they did it</a> <a href="http://businessinsider.in/india-accounted-for-most-number-of-intentional-internet-shutdowns-in-south-asia-2017-18-unesco/articleshow/64189016.cms">India accounted for most number of intentional internet shutdowns in South Asia 2017-18: UNESCO</a>

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