Monday’s are always difficult and I was
going lazily with the day. I was chatting with a friend and he mentioned
that two girls in Mumbai were charged by cops for putting a status on
Facebook. When I looked at the news I found out that the status was
something in the line of - People take birth and die daily and one
should not observe a Bandh for that. She and her friend were booked
under Section 295 (a) of the IPC (for hurting religious sentiments) and
Section 64 (a) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Her friend was
booked because she liked her status. Later during the day, a Retired
Judge, Supreme Court of India
sent a letter to CM of Maharashtra and when no response was received he
sent a reminder e-mail. Initially girls were ordered to be sent for a
judicial remand of 15 days but later due to the media and social
pressure they were freed on a bond of Rupees 15000.
This post has got less to do with Bala
Sahab or if the Girl’s status was right or not. The post is meant only
for our Freedom of speech and expression. A month back someone on
twitter said something to Chidambaram’s son and next day he was
arrested. Following it, few days later a person was arrested for taking
pictures of Chidambaram. Apparently in West Bengal whoever asks
questions is labeled as a Maoist. What has truly gone wrong with the
largest democracy in the world?
The way things have changed in last 1
year can be felt by citizens and more by netizens. All of a sudden
Government and media have started looking into social networks. There is
nothing bad if Government and everyone start looking into social media.
Social media directly gives you a direct and fresh opinion of people
about what’s happening in their life and country. Government should
definitely look and understand people mandate, again print and
electronic media should raise netizens concerns. Ironical this is not
what is happening. A few people over Twitter and Facebook are doing job
of being social restrictors. These people's job is to keep down anything
posted against their product/parties/people.
Not the product companies but political
parties are definitely afraid of social media. Still they have not
embraced it and they want to control it. I need not to say about the
power of social media. China has controlled internet and social media
because they are afraid of an uprising. I won’t even discuss about the
much happened uprising in Egypt which started from a Facebook status.
Similarly I will not point out the fact that much of support for Anna’s
Lokpal was generated from social networks and that is how a huge mass
was gathered at Delhi.
My dear Government/Kapil Sibbal, if you
really want to tap the youth, the India where average age of 50%
population is below 25, there is a need to connect. Government needs to
come down to social network, to promote healthy debate and increase
participation. Please don’t act on outrage of people over Social
Network, it will never curb the freedom of speech and expression instead
you will always bear the brunt of people for doing this stupidity. New
generation might look stupid (and sometimes they are) but no one likes
you as well. People have habit of forming an opinion and no one likes to
get into the details. Please don’t outrage the already frustrated
Indians who take out their anger on social networks instead of walking
around the streets. Else believe me it’s going to be bad, seriously bad.
PS – 1: Going by logic of filing police
report against a status, entire India should file a defamation suit
against Rober Vadra who complained about ‘Mango Man’.
PS – 2: Someday when I get my hand on Aakash, I will like to see if they have Facebook/Twitter Apps installed or not.
Image Courtesy - http://blur-marketing.com/blog/business-or-pleasure-a-guide-to-managing-multiple-facebook-and-twitter-accounts/
