Net Neutrality deadline: Trai receives over million emails from netizens asking to save the Internet

tech2 News StaffApr 24, 2015 09:20:04 IST

Update: Finally, the million mail mission is successful, and it took just 12 days.

https://twitter.com/neutrality_in/status/591137599927922688

Yesterday, Trai received about 10,16,795 emails.

https://twitter.com/bulletinbabu/status/591262891346649089

Just a day to go before Trai's deadline for comments by public on net neutrality ends. Looks like, we will soon hit the one million mark as netizens across the country have sent over 9,90,000 emails, so far.

Going by the latest figures about 9,94,230 emails have been sent to Trai in support of net neutrality. This means, only 6,223 emails are left to achieve the million mail mission.

https://twitter.com/bulletinbabu/status/591074146748096512

Protesting against rules trying to redefine the Internet, a website called www.savetheinternet.in was set up where anyone can send a mail directly to Trai, expressing their grief and discomfort about how telecom carriers are snatching away free Internet from them.

By April 19, TRAI had received over 9 lakh emails in support of net neutrality. According to a report by The Indian Express, netizens are bombarding the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India with 50 emails per minute.

https://twitter.com/neutrality_in/status/589631612159045634

Kiran Jonnalagadda, one of the volunteers at Savetheinternet, told the newspaper, "It is the largest ever campaign conducted in this country within the shortest span of time — just over 10 days."

He had earlier said, "This is completely unprecedented. We thought we'll get about 15,000 e-mails in 10 days."

On April 12, there were over one lakh emails sent to Trai.

More than 1 Lakh mails sent to Trai. Thank you everyone. #savetheinternet #netneutralityindia pic.twitter.com/rwBCkfcSoY

The ongoing net neutrality debate has now got a political twist. We've been hearing about how TRAI isn't really buying Facebook's Internet.org or Airtel Zero programs and DoT is also batting for net neutrality, but for the first time telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has come forth to reveal that government stands for free and open Internet.

The government spoke about how it is committed to provide equal access to Internet and will also ensure non-discriminatory access.

Yesterday, Rahul Gandhi moved an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha and called the government pro-corporate. He also mentioned the need for a new law on net neutrality. In response, Prasad also took to reminding Gandhi how the UPA government had blocked Twitter handles in the past.

Now, it is important to keep this issue apolitical. In fact SaveTheInternet.in Coalition has also appealed to parliamentarians and political leaders to keep the matter apolitical.

"We urge with the utmost humility that - just like the Internet - the present effort should not to be appropriated by any individual, organisation or political party. We are an apolitical group and do not have any party allegiances, but we are grateful at the support shown to our concerns by political leaders across India’s political spectrum. We hope the cause of a free and open Internet continues receiving support from all people committed to our democracy," the letter reads.

Read the complete letter here.

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