Members of Parliament, cutting across party lines, on Friday sent out a strong and loud message to the northeast people that the whole country was for them and with them and that they need not have any apprehension about their safety. Like any other citizen, they have every right to study, work and reside in any part of India.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha when the Houses took up for discussion, by suspending question hour, attacks on the northeast people and their exodus. He said the growing sense of insecurity among the northeast people was “more reprehensible.”
Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said he had directed intelligence personnel to trace the source of rumours and false information being spread against the northeast population through SMSs and websites such as YouTube and facebook. Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said that to check rumours, bulk SMSs and MMSs have been banned for 15 days with immediate effect. No one would be allowed to send more than 5 SMSs at a time and more than 20 KB of data through mobile phones. During his intervention in the Lok Sabha, Dr. Singh, a Rajya Sabha member from Assam, said the northeast was a very sensitive region and whatever might have happened in Kokrajhar and other areas should not be used as an occasion to fan rumours. Communal harmony and unity and integrity were at stake and everyone should work to create an atmosphere to end rumour-mongering.
Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj urged the government to set up helplines to assist the northeast people to air their grievances, and increase police patrolling to instil a sense of confidence among them.
In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said a fear psychosis was being created among the northeast people and steps should be taken to end rumour-mongering.
Keywords: Northeast violence, North Easterners exodus, Assam violence, bulk SMS, bulk MMS, social networking, Bodo-Muslim clashes, social discrimination
This is againist article 19 of the constitution the govt does not have any authority to do anything like this.It is in these times that India's commitment to freedom of speech.If our fundamental rights are not protected at all times then there is no future for our republic.We don't have freedom of speech for discussing weather we have it to discuss controversial issues.
"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter." - George Washington.
"We are willing enough to praise freedom when she is safely tucked away in the past and cannot be a nuisance. In the present, amidst dangers whose outcome we cannot foresee, we get nervous about her, and admit censorship." - Forster.
"The sound of tireless voices is the price we pay for the right to hear the music of our own opinions." - Adlai Stevenson.
"The freedom of the press works in such a way that there is not much freedom from it." - Grace Kelly.
First there was this 100 texts per day law. And now 5 texts a day?!
What are these dogooders thinking?
Collective punishment? Can't find the murderer let's put everyone in the lockup?
I mean seriously, i have nothing to do with spreading nonsense rumors about anyone. I have never been to Benglades, and never been to Assam. Why should I be punished for someone else' fault? The regulatory bodies, if they want to, might as well check my sms history in the service provider's database. I have nothing to hide, nothing to be scared of, and i am not doing anything illegal. Just need free messages to text my girlfriend. What's next? Ban internet usage for more than 15 minutes a day? Do these laws apply to Respected Sonia Gandhi and Respected Dr. Man Mohan singh ji 's personal mobile devices? They don't, for somehow they think they have more rights than we commoners. So much for "Free India". I'll never vote for congress again. Thank you dogooders, you have done enough, please leave us alone now
People should not make rumors.....
We general Public face the problem of them.......
what's happening ? Here we are fighting for the ideals propounded by
this state. but it seems like the whole state is against us!
Govt. has put a BAN on BULK SMS for next 15 days effective from TOMORROW to curb the rumors being spread with respect of north east Violence. We are seeking complete clarity on nature BAN from concerned authorities and operators and shall keep you updated.
The exodus of the North-Easterners from some parts of the country to their native places saddens me doubly. Firstly, because they are constrained to run away Indians from their own country, which has a constitution permitting free dom to settle in any parts of the country. Secondly, such exodus on a mass scale has the fire power to trigger more violence and hatred in their home states against others. Admittedly, xenophobia begets more xenophobia. There seems to have been undoubted pressing of panic button at some places to trigger mass exodus inviting media attention. Some anti-national elements also seem to played an active role in creating such a fear psychosis in the minds of these migrants that they are ready to jettison anything to save their lives. This is an unusual phenomenon among the migrants, who usually stay put come what may. The authorities must inquire into the forces behind creating such a psychosis forcing them to prefer unemployment in own land to employment.
This is the best they could manage?
Never get to the root of the issue. It is like--if you have pain in your leg--let us
amputate it.
It seems that cyber jihadis (possibly with overseas help) are working overtime to create panic and mayhem. These people should be caught and punished severely.
My friends, we are Indian, these east, west, north, south, these all Geographical point. but, we all are Indian don't thinks... and don't keep in your heart,, pleas pure it by your brotherhood. ??? if some fools do.. these all. why should run on that way. we all are human being of world. world is our ? NOt India. we live togother , and done .. what ... to do for progress for human being. we try our best.. try at the last movement and don't leave to learn good thing to make a world one, in one umbrella. ok, jai hind
IN the situation that is obtaining in the coujntry, there is need for
some sort of censorship for the net and social sites. Some real work for
Sibal.
Ban SMS,MMS(not Sh. Man mohan Singh) today, ban FB,Internet tommorrow. But Not willing to act on the core problem of migration.Nation is watching all the steps sensitively,hope UPA-II grab a little mandate to rule this time by positive steps,not followed by appeasement of migrants for vote bank politics.Show some spine,act hard against mobs,not considering religions in mind.
This should be made permanent . Unwanted Sms / MMS messages have become
a nuisance to all . So , also despite activating DND [ ' DO NOT DISTURB
'' ] many unwanted phone calls are received by mobile users every day
even during odd hours .
Another great action by the govt.
Wouldn't it be better if the govt created its own sms/mms and sent to
people across the country to reassure them of the support to Assamese
people? Wouldn't it be better to have press conferences (in state and
in centre)on this issue to make statements to reassure people?
But govt. does what is really easy to do. Ban bulk sms/mms. Another
hasty decision by the government. I wonder what is going on with
governance these days.
Good thought,sms spread like a fire in forest,which is increasing panic.
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