Kochi: Children and the younger generation are slaves of a cyberworld, union minister of state for tourism Alphons Kannanthanam has said.

Addressing the Manorama News Freedom Conclave 2018, he said everyone was duty-bound to find their own freedom.

Exploring the idea of freedom, Kannanthanam said children were being led like animals in a line. "The high-scoring students were not exploring the world. They were quite oblivious of the finesse of the world and were absolutely unequipped for the world," he said.

Stressing on 'specifics, tangible and numerics,' he said the results were out in the open for all to see.

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On an average, children spent three hours on the phone.

'Their parents and teachers were their 'first enemies.' This is where the freedom aspect came in, he said.

“Every child should have the freedom to be what he intends to be,” the union minister said.

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He said those criticising the central government should understand that they were on Indian soil and free to say whatever they wanted. “This country belongs to everyone – to the minorities and the majorities,” he added.

He said it was the collective responsibility of everyone to ensure fair living opportunities to all people in the country.

“Freedom, as a collective urge, can shape a country on its way to progress,” he added.

Sparing none, he said it was not the brief of legislators to 'visit every wedding hall and console the kin of all those dead.'

Apologizing for being 'blunt and unpolished,' he said he did not intend to be diplomatic.

“The Modi government was trying to ensure the freedom of all citizens, every time being bound by the tenets of the constitution.”

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