Actor-director Farhan Akhtar told NDTV, "I feel the culture of banning is a scary culture. At the end of the day it creates parallel systems and black markets. It's not because you've banned it that young people are going to stop watching it.
As opposed to educating them about effects, if at all, on the mind from watching too much porn or on your sexuality or your concepts of relationships - that's slightly more constructive than just saying you can't. Because when you tell young people you can't, it just doesn't work."
Telecoms have now been directed to unblock several non-pornographic sites that had been affected. These included humour and dating portals.
Twitter has been filled with celebrities discussing the blocking.
Look what I found! pic.twitter.com/ZkFZJp1hem
— Kalki Koechlin (@kalkikanmani) August 4, 2015Ban idiots who think banning things is going to make a difference to Indian mentality.. #sooverthisgovt #NextBanIdea #sick #ashamed
— Sonam Kapoor (@sonamakapoor) August 3, 2015I suppose if you're going to ban porn, it might as well be unofficial. Given that's also how I watch it - unofficially :-)
Vir Das (@thevirdas) August 4, 2015So you banned it, because you didn't want people using it. Now they won't stop talking about it, and are finding new ways to get it. Hmmmmm
Vir Das (@thevirdas) August 4, 2015Ok lets make a deal...keep the porn and keep the beef.....just give me Maggi?
Vir Das (@thevirdas) August 4, 2015Now that one Government has really found a way to ban sites, now we can actually stop piracy in the country. No???
Anubhav Sinha (@anubhavsinha) August 4, 2015.@25rby @Vidyut Child-porn should be banned & punishable by strictest legal sentences. But blanket-bans are stupid, ignorant & dangerous!
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) August 4, 2015Porn ban is anti-freedom, impractical, not enforceable. Politically not very smart too. avoidable. Let's not manage people's private lives.
Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) August 3, 2015Don't ban porn. Ban men ogling, leering, brushing past, groping, molesting, abusing, humiliating and raping women. Ban non-consent. Not sex.
Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) August 3, 2015#NextBanIdea: Olive Oil (too western, only Indian culture desi ghee allowed); funny TV shows (why laugh?); Cappuccino, pizza (not indian)
Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) August 3, 2015#NextBanIdea: Anyone who has an opinion different from yours must be banned. After all, you are always right.
Chetan Bhagat (@chetan_bhagat) August 3, 2015Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma, never one to do things by half-measures, issued one of the rants his followers have come to expect of him:
Ban Those Who Ban Porn My article http://t.co/xs6pG3jF56
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 3, 2015All countries which legalised porn advanced for instance America not becos of Porn but indicative of giving respect to individual's Liberty
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 3, 2015What was said in Supreme Court of America in Larry flynt case If you don't like porn don't watch but you can't stop who wants to watch it
Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 3, 201525% of all porn visitors originating from India are women, whereas globally, 23% of visitors are women.
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 3, 2015Indians love porn and the proof is India currently ranked #5 in overall traffic online, with USA ranking at #1
Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 3, 2015This basically means that it's going to be so many lesser votes for the government in the next election
Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 3, 2015Now they have just banned porn but very soon the Government might come into the bedroom to see how couples are having sex
Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 3, 2015And I think the government will direct couples on their positions and instruct them on the do's and dont's ..This for sure will b next step
— Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 3, 2015It's the social media which made him and now he has bitten the very hand which fed him and now social media will bite back both his hands
Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) August 4, 2015Watch Farhan's interview:
