As Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly division enters a 48-hour internet blackout during the Dussehra festival, questions loom over the necessity and consequences of such drastic actions. While the government cites concerns over communal tension and misinformation, this move opens a Pandora’s box of democracy, rights, and social harmony.
The Justification: Security or Overreach?
The official narrative claims that shutting down internet and mobile services will curb the spread of rumors and inflammatory messages that could provoke violence, a concern stemming from recent unrest tied to a controversial “I Love Muhammad” poster row. Authorities insist these are preventive steps to ensure peace during a volatile period.
Indeed, in volatile environments, real-time control of misinformation can help reduce immediate clashes. Deploying drones and police forces alongside digital shutdowns can be effective in stemming violence in the short term. From a law-and-order standpoint, this rationale is appealing.
The Reality: A Blow to Democracy and Daily Life
However, internet shutdowns severely curtail fundamental freedoms including the right to free speech, expression, and access to information guaranteed by the Constitution. Cutting off communication disables citizens from participating in discourse, raising accountability concerns.
More importantly, suspending the internet punishes thousands of innocent people who depend on digital connectivity for work, emergencies, health services, and education. Businesses suffer losses, daily lives get disrupted, and grievances simmer beneath the surface, often worsening societal divisions.
Such shutdowns rarely address the root causes of unrest. They tend to silence voices calling for dialogue and coexistence while creating information vacuums that breed fear and mistrust. History shows that internet blackouts can escalate rather than contain conflicts.
The Controversy over “I Love Muhammad”
Why should an expression as simple as “I Love Muhammad” trigger protests and controversies? In a diverse nation, every individual and community has the undeniable right to their religious beliefs and peaceful expression. The essence of democracy is to foster coexistence, mutual respect, and unity—not division based on religious sentiments.
Suppressing expressions of religious identity undermines social harmony more than it protects it. The state must focus on promoting interfaith dialogue and secular values that bind communities together rather than resorting to heavy-handed censorship and policing.
A Call for Balanced, Democratic Solutions
Security concerns around festivals and gatherings are genuine, but resorting to internet shutdowns is a blunt instrument that undermines democracy and everyday freedoms. Alternatives such as targeted messaging, dialogue with community leaders, and better policing without cutting off essential communications should be prioritized.
Our democracy demands that the state uphold the right of all its citizens to live peacefully with dignity and freedom of expression. True peace emerges not from repression but from dialogue, respect for rights, and inclusive governance.
