Is Net Neutrality Movement India’s new struggle for freedom? Flipkart vows for net neutrality

At a time when country’s free Internet is under attack and the telecom operators are willing to implement new strategies to earn more profit, political parties have come together in support of Net Neutrality in India. Net Neutrality or democratic internet plans for all under the sun has made possible the impossible. There has been only one instance when political parties had joined together to protest – that was almost 70 years before in India’s freedom struggle against the British rule.

A news report by The Economic Times said, political parties have joined the pitch for Internet freedom. "Congress completely supports net neutrality, Internet freedom must not be compromised," said Congress leader Ajay Maken.

"If ISPs control where you should shop from, then consumers will be powerless," Maken slammed.

The government has also backed an open Internet. Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said the common man should be able to access it without discrimination and declared that the final decision on the controversial net neutrality issue will be taken by the telecom department and not the regulator.
A six-member panel set up by telecom department will submit its recommendations next month, following which a final view will be taken on Net Neutrality, the principle that guarantees consumers equal and non-discriminatory access to all data, apps and services on the Internet.

Meanwhile, after the significant backlash that it faced, online retailer Flipkart on Tuesday withdrew from the controversial Airtel Zero plan. "We think equal access to Internet is important for healthy growth of internet services in India. We have realised that Airtel Zero could go against net neutrality," Flipkart said.

"We will be internally discussing details of actions over the next few days. We have a deeper understanding of the implications of zero rating," Flipkart said on social media. "We are committed to the larger cause of Net Neutrality," Flipkart said in a statement.

On its part Airtel, who pioneered the move with introduction of Airtel Zero said that it believes in the concept of Net Neutrality. "We have always supported net neutrality. The Internet is open and we believe it should be non-discriminatory. It should be transparent and open and completely support net neutrality as a concept," Gopal Vittal, CEO of Airtel India told the ET.

Asked whether Airtel is planning to withdraw the product, Vittal said, "We stand committed to the product. We are disappointed by the kind of criticism on the product. This cannot be a conversation on rich versus the poor.

(Image: India Times)