During the Question Hour in the Upper House on Thursday, Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, 'The misconception that the Internet is a fundamental right needs to be corrected. The security of the country is equally important. Communication of ideas through the Internet is part of the fundamental right to freedom of expression.'
Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in response to a question, 'The Supreme Court clearly stated that no lawyer has argued that the right to the Internet is a fundamental right. This kind of misconception needs to be corrected. The Supreme Court said that using the Internet to communicate your thoughts is also a part of the fundamental right to freedom of expression.'
Ravi Shankar Prasad said that no one can deny that the internet is being misused to spread violence and terrorism. Pakistan is doing this in Kashmir and IS also increased due to the internet. He said, 'While the right to the Internet is important, the security of the country is equally important. Can we deny that terrorists are misusing the Internet to commit violence? There has been an attempt to spread unrest in Kashmir through the Internet from across the border.'
Prasad asserted that the constitution that empowers us equally emphasizes its control. In response to a supplementary question by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, Prasad said, "Use the Internet but you cannot incite violence and weaken the unity, integrity, and security of the country."
