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"Conversation. What is it? A Mystery! It's the art of never seeming bored, of touching everything with interest, of pleasing with trifles, of being fascinating with nothing at all. How do we define this lively darting about with words, of hitting them back and forth, this sort of brief smile of ideas which should be conversation?" Guy de Maupassant

Wednesday, July 19, 2006

This is the letter I have sent:


Shri B.B.Bahl,
Joint Director and PIO (RTI)
Office of PIO (RTI)
Room No 1016
Electronics Niketan
Department of Information Technology (DIT)
Ministry of Communications and Information Technology
6, CGO Complex, New Delhi
Tel: 011-24301116
Fax: 011-24363099
Email: pio.dit_hq@mit.gov.in

Dear Sir,

SUB: Request to Information Regarding the Blocking of Internet domains: blogspot.com, typepad.com and geocities.com

Please provide me with the following information. I would like to state that you need not provide to me that information (or particular portion thereof) which would impede the prosecution of offenders under any law of India, and also any personal information which is unconnected with any public activity/interest or which invades the privacy of any person. THIS INFORMATION IS SOUGHT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST. THERE IS OVER-RIDING LARGER PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE INFORMATION I HAVE ASKED FOR.

What I am requesting is as follows.

  1. Why are blogs on the following domains - blogspot.com and typepad.com being blocked by Indian ISP's?
  2. Has there been a directive issued by the Government?  Which Ministry has this been issued by?
  3. What exactly was the communication between the concerned Ministry and the ISPs?
  4. Despite building media pressure around this, why is the Government not issueing a statement?
  5. When can we expect an explanation from the Government for this act?
  6. What are the implications of this form of blanket censorship on our constitutional fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression?
  7. When will this block be lifted?
  8. What can we do, as citizens of India and bloggers, to ensure that this does not happen again?
We need answers soon.

Best,

Dina Mehta
http://dinamehta.com/


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