We had asked our readers for their opinion about the government's attempts to censor online content. An overwhelming number of readers condemned such a move and suggested that Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal and his colleagues should focus on more important issues instead:
Chalapathi Rao Mudigonda: This is another trick which is being played by Mr Sibal and his colleagues to divert the attention of the people from burning issues such as farmers' suicides, the Lokpal Bill, rising prices.
What can these regulations and controls do? There must be some news for the media to engage the people and sell their pictures and news. The latest drama of Mr Sibal serves that purpose and nothing more.
Bhushan: The people in India are still struggling for food. Instead of looking at those issues, these politicians are wasting their time on these kind of issues.
By blocking posts in social media, people will not support the government. They should act for the country's progress, then people will automatically stop abusing them.
Is Kapil Sibal right or wrong? Discuss!
'China could not censor Google'
Aftab: While the fear is genuine, there is nothing that any government can do. Notorious elements can always use other means like SMS, MMS etc to achieve their goal.
At least on the internet, the views can be countered.
My only request is that issues that spread hatred towards any society or violence preached by notorious elements should not find a place on these sites.
The issue of political jokes should be treated as a way of life as we do it at home and with our friends.
Argumentative Indian: These are just standard tactics followed by politicians to hoodwink emotional Indians.
Remember Sushma Swaraj had banned FTV at one time? It was a coincidence that the NDA government was taking some flak for something at the time.
In any case, this is a standard ploy of politicians. When in trouble, attack something totally meaningless to create a diversion.
At the end of the day, China could not censor Google so India is unlikely to be able to do so.
Google finally just got up and left China because of the low penetration in the Chinese market. That was a business decision, not a political one.
Our processes are notorious for their slackness.
'Kapil Sibal thinks he is too smart and all Indians are idiots'
Bajrang Hadvale: Kapil Sibal thinks he is too smart and all Indians are idiots.
He is worried as entire India is blaming Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh for all the mismanagement, misrule and corruption in India. He wants to scuttle the voice of Indians and break their unity.
Chakraview: Mr minister, we are in 2011, not in 1980-1981. Please understand.
Angry young man: Now I am convinced that we are on our way to becoming the world's biggest and most successful banana republic.
'They just have to do their jobs'
Sarkar: Internet users are mostly educated masses who speak their minds. Whatever comments the politicians get, it is a scorecard given by the educated public and earned by the politicos for their activities. We have nothing personal against them.
The government and Mr Sibal should change their image by example, not by supervision or censoring the media. They just have to do their jobs and the same public will shower praises on them.
Prasan D: Kapil Sibal wants to restrict social media. With all these restrictions, he feels that Jan Lokal type mass movements will not gather much momentum in the future.
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