New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed his astonishment at the frequent and prolonged internet shutdowns in India, stating that it is unusual for a democratic country to resort to such measures, causing inconvenience to ordinary citizens. Tharoor shared his thoughts on Twitter a day before the Supreme Court's hearing on the situation in Manipur, which has experienced ethnic violence over the past two months.
Having served as the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, Tharoor highlighted that in 2022, the committee found no evidence suggesting that internet shutdowns effectively mitigate violence. He criticized these shutdowns as reflexive bureaucratic actions that primarily inconvenience citizens rather than serving as a meaningful security measure.
Tharoor expressed hope that the Supreme Court would prioritize the rights of citizens over the decisions made by indifferent bureaucrats. He emphasized the impact of internet shutdowns on citizens who rely on the internet for various essential activities such as banking, credit card transactions, enrolments, examinations, and access to vital information. Tharoor urged the court to put an end to this detrimental practice.
On July 7, the Manipur High Court directed the state government to lift the internet ban, but the government appealed against the decision in the Apex Court. The state has witnessed violence arising from clashes between the Kuki and Meitei communities.
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