Net neutrality debate trial balloon floated by government: Rahul

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi alleged on Wednesday that the net neutrality debate was a "trial balloon" floated by the central government to test if internet space can be handed over to corporates.

Gandhi told media persons outside Parliament House here that if the government wanted to protect net neutrality, why "did it start consultation" on the issue.

"If you (the government) wanted to protect net neutrality, why did you begin the consultation. It is a trial balloon to see if the reaction is strong (or not). We are giving a strong reaction so that the process is closed," he said.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to carve out the internet for "some corporates" and demanded a new law to address net neutrality.

Gandhi, who has shown a new activism since his return from a nearly two-month-long leave of absence, earlier took on the government on issues concerning farmers.

Gandhi on Sunday addressed a farmers' rally here in which he accused the central government of seeking to use the land ordinance to help its "corporate friends".

On Monday, while participating in the debate on the agrarian situation, he signalled his party's firm resistance to the land ordinance. He further sought to put the government on the defensive and described the Modi government as "suit-boot" government.

Gandhi's attacks on the government have evoked immediate response from the government.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh rebutted his allegations concerning farmers and the poor, while Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad counter-attacked him on the issue of net neutrality.

Prasad said consultations concerning net neutrality had been started by TRAI which was an independent regulatory body but the final decision rests with him and the government.

He accused Gandhi of not doing his homework properly before raising questions.