Ban on bulk SMS till Ayodhya ruling

NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday banned bulk SMSes and MMSes for three days leading to the Ayodhya verdict on September 24 in an unprecedented move aimed at preventing cellphones turning handy for mischief-mongers looking to spread rumours, distribute objectionable content and create panic.

The communications ministry’s late-night communiqué to mobile phone companies is another attempt by the government to keep a tight lid on untoward incidents on Friday, when the Allahabad High Court is due to rule on whether Hindus or Muslims own land around the demolished mosque.

The dispute’s origins can be traced back to 1885, but the mosque’s demolition by Hindu activists in 1992 set off some of the worst riots since Partition.

Aware that it is dealing with a hot potato, the government has published newspaper advertisements warning against knee-jerk reactions that might trigger communal tension. The 1992 riots still fresh in mind, the government and political parties have also been appealing for peace in the run-up to the long-awaited verdict.

“The way the country handles this (verdict)—the aftermath—will have a profound impact on the evolution of our country,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said earlier this month.

Indeed, ways to handle the aftermath of the verdict have topped the government’s to-do list in recent days.

Media told to show restraint

It has asked the media, particularly television channels, to refrain from airing provocative news and opinion that may spark unrest.

The ban on bulk SMSes and MMSes, which already applies to Kashmir, is another attempt in this direction.
Foreign states, particularly Iran and China, have resorted to the practice in recent times, international media reports show.

Most cellphone operators and industry lobbies had no comment on the ban. A telecom executive pegged the loss for the industry at Rs 3 crore. Bulk SMSes are typically bought for commercial purposes—millions of messages are bought by companies selling merchandise or services for as little as 1 paise apiece compared to a regular SMS that costs between 40 paise and Re 1.

Communications ministry officials said state governments might also be authorised to block all SMS services in sensitive areas and certain volatile cities for a few hours on Friday.