Ravi Shankar to Azad:Security as important as net

New Delhi, December 5

Union Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday responded to a poser by the Leader of the Opposition, Ghulam Nabi Azad, in the Rajya Sabha with regard to Kashmir, saying security is also as important as the Internet services.

In a supplementary during the question hour, Azad said due to the suspension of the Internet services, WhatsApp and SMSes since August 5, normal life had been affected adversely.

Azad said students who use the Internet with regard to study material had been affected. Business community had been affected as they used to transact their business through the net.

“Communication is as important to life as oxygen for living,” Azad said, questioning the government for the clampdown on the Internet and allied services for long.

Prasad responded by saying that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had already given a detailed reply in the matter a few days ago on the floor of the House. “Internet is important, so also is security.”

He informed the House that there was no suspension of postal service in Kashmir post August 5. “However, to regulate the inward mail traffic and electronic money orders, the Department of Posts temporarily suspended booking and transmission of Speed Post, registered post and parcels from August 5 to 18 on account of operational reasons,” Prasad said, and added that the department resumed mail services to Kashmir from the rest of the country from August 19 and electronic money orders from August 28. — TNS