Net neutrality issue: Rahul Gandhi has not done any homework, says RS Prasad

Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday hit back at Rahul Gandhi for not doing his homework well on the issue of net neutrality.

"Under UPA regime, Rahul Gandhi then also did not do his homework, and after coming to the opposition he does not do his homework. This is wrong what Rahul Gandhi has said that TRAI's consultation papers have been functioned by the government," Prasad told the media.

He further said that it would be the Centre who would take the final decision.

"TRAI is an independent body. Whatever its report be, I will take the decision, the government will take. The final decision will be with the government. TRAI suggests, we take the decision. In PM's hands, freedom of net for the youth is safe," he added.

The union minister also retorted and said, "Rahul Gandhi is wrong on land bill issue and super wrong on the net issue. On both the issue, he is talking without any basis, without any homework."

After the debate on net neutrality in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi while speaking to the reporters, he alleged, "If they [government] wanted to protect net neutrality then why did they start the consultation process?"

Meanwhile, senior congress leader and former union minister Anand Sharma said that it was a ridiculous argument from the government side that because the PM uses social media this means no other has the right to comment.

"Opposition has a duty to perform and Rahul Gandhi is very much within his right as a senior leader and a Member of Parliament to raise this matter because there are serious concerns and it is a ridiculous argument from the government side that because the PM uses social media this means no other has the right to comment. It's absurd," he added.