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Journalism of Courage
Having attacked the government over the farm crisis two earlier, Rahul Gandhi Wednesday targeted it over Net neutrality, the subject of a campaign that has been online nationwide. Rahul demanded in the Lok Sabha that the ongoing TRAI consultation on the subject be stopped and a law be passed to ensure Net neutrality for all. This forced the government to clarify that it had not yet taken any decision and that it favoured “Internet for all”.
Rahul in the morning gave a notice for suspension of Question Hour to take up an adjournment motion, then raised the issue in zero hour and accused the government of “dividing the Internet among big corporates”.
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“There are discussions on issues like NREGA, Right to Food, but I want to say Net neutrality, in simple terms, means the right to Internet. Every youth must have the right to Internet,” he said. “The government wants to divide the Internet among big industrialists.”
Making a reference to the social media campaign for Net neutrality, Rahul said one million people have registered to fight for it. “Youth have voted and are asking on Twitter, on Facebook and on all other applications for Net neutrality,” he said.
While Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu objected to the speech saying Rahul had indulged in “insinuation”, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad responded that the PM has promised to implement a system that would ensure Internet is available in a “non-discriminatory” way. He also hit back at the Congress, saying a number of Twitter accounts were blocked in August 2012. “Why that had happened, the country would have to consider someday,” he said.
Prasad said he has already formed a committee to study the matter thoroughly and submit a report. “The report will be submitted in the second week of May. That apart, TRAI has the power to discuss the TRAI Act but it does not have the right to take a decision on it. That power rests with me (minister) and the Modi government.. That’s the course of the law,” he said. “When their recommendations come, the Telecom Commission will deliberate on it and then I will take a decision, the cabinet will take a decision.”
Prasad said the present government had earned Rs 1.1 lakh crore from spectrum auction. “The world knows what used to happen on this (spectrum auction) before this government. What happened in the coal auctions?” he said.
Prasad assured that the “the future of people’s right to Internet is safe and secure in this country… Also, our Prime Minister is among the most popular figures on social media, and we want to respect social media,” he said.
After Prasad’s reply, Rahul was seen rising from his seat to seek a clarification, which Speaker Sumitra Mahajan did not allow saying discussions were not allowed during question hour.
But outside the House, Rahul made it clear that he was not satisfied with the government’s reply and that he would continue to oppose the government’s move.
“I want to ask a question. If you (the government) have to protect Net neutrality, why did you begin the consultation process? It was a trial balloon. First float the trial balloon, see the reaction and if the reaction is strong then do not proceed. That is why we are opposing it tooth and nail, so that they withdraw,” Rahul told reporters.
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