[Reader-list] Fwd: Petition: Tell Kapil Sibal to ensure that freedom of speech is protected as guaranteed by the Constitution

[Chintan Girish Modi]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gautam John <mail at change.org>
Date: Thu, Dec 6, 2012 at 9:21 AM
Subject: 66A
To: chintan.backups at gmail.com


       [image: Change.org]    * Tell Kapil Sibal to ensure that freedom of
speech is protected as guaranteed by the Constitution.
<https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/amend-section-66a-and-relook-at-the-internet-laws-protect-our-freedomofspeech?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14743&alert_id=hGCwFVECNn_bUMDAblPym>
*
<https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/amend-section-66a-and-relook-at-the-internet-laws-protect-our-freedomofspeech?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14743&alert_id=hGCwFVECNn_bUMDAblPym>
Sign My Petition
<https://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/amend-section-66a-and-relook-at-the-internet-laws-protect-our-freedomofspeech?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14743&alert_id=hGCwFVECNn_bUMDAblPym>

Chintan -

Shaheen - arrested for posting on Facebook.
Renu - arrested for 'like' ing Shaheen's comment.
Prof. Ambikesh - jailed for emailing a cartoon.
Ravi - arrested for tweeting about a politician’s son.

Shaheen Dadha, Renu Srinivasan, Prof. Ambikesh Mahapatra and Ravi
Srinivasan all have something in common. *They were charged under section
66A of the Information Technology act* for sharing “offensive” content on
the internet.

I believe that Section 66A of the IT Act goes *against our right to freedom
of speech and expression guaranteed in the Constitution.*

That's why I started a petition asking Kapil Sibal, Minister of Information
Technology, to amend section 66A and other such provisions of the IT
act.<http://www.change.org/petitions/amend-section-66a-and-relook-at-the-internet-laws-protect-our-freedomofspeech?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14743&alert_id=hGCwFVECNn_bUMDAblPym>

The Minister himself has said that the Information Technology Act should
not be misused to "throttle dissent" and has hinted at a possible review of
the act. He is even issuing additional guidelines on how the provisions of
the IT Act should be used.

Like you, *I signed the petition to drop charges against Shaheen Dhada and
her friend **Renu* for their comment on Facebook and together we were able
to showcase the public pressure for the charges to be dropped.

Now *we have to ensure that these incidents do not happen in the future*. Join
me in telling Kapil Sibal to amend section 66A of the IT
act.<http://www.change.org/petitions/amend-section-66a-and-relook-at-the-internet-laws-protect-our-freedomofspeech?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14743&alert_id=hGCwFVECNn_bUMDAblPym>

More people signing my
petition<http://www.change.org/petitions/amend-section-66a-and-relook-at-the-internet-laws-protect-our-freedomofspeech?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14743&alert_id=hGCwFVECNn_bUMDAblPym>
will
add to the pressure on the Minister. *Forward this mail to your family and
friends and get them to support freedom of speech.*

Thank you for taking action,

Gautam John via Change.org

*News Sources:*

   1. Hindustan Times : Professor arrested for poking fun at
Mamata<http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/WestBengal/Professor-arrested-for-poking-fun-at-Mamata/Article1-839847.aspx?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14743&alert_id=hGCwFVECNn_bUMDAblPym>
   2. The Hindu: IAC Volunteer tweets himself into trouble faces three
   years in jail<http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/iac-volunteer-tweets-himself-into-trouble-faces-three-years-in-jail/article4051769.ece?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14743&alert_id=hGCwFVECNn_bUMDAblPym>
   3. Times of India : 21-year-old girl held for Facebook post questioning
   Mumbai's 'Bal Thackeray
shutdown'<http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-19/india/35204660_1_facebook-post-facebook-account-bal-thackeray?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14743&alert_id=hGCwFVECNn_bUMDAblPym>
   4. Only by amending IT Act's flawed Section 66A can we stop its
misuse<http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-26/edit-page/35347681_1_law-enforcers-harsh-laws-misuse?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=14743&alert_id=hGCwFVECNn_bUMDAblPym>

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