I love blog comments ... there is this little argument happening at the comments to my earlier post on reflections around the Indian Government's censorship of blogs and websites. Soubhagya who keeps insisting that this is just a technical goof-up and let's not call it a ban, made me really think ... and thought I'd share my response to him with a few additions here:

I think you miss the bigger issue underlying this Soubhagya - which is about asking the Govt to be transparent about their actions - for all you know they are blocking lots of other websites too. That worries me. Is it ok for the govt to block or censor ANY website (and am making this issue broader than just blogs), without any explanations on why they were blocked, why they are a threat to national security?

Why they are blocking MY access to them? Or my right to read them? I have the right to question that. Would you like the Government to determine what you can and cannot access? What if they decide the internet is bad for you? Without any explanation and block your access to it? Would you sit back and take it?

Am glad you have commented at these sites - that's freedom of speech - just like you're able to comment here. You have every right to disagree with me, to say I am wrong. But you don't have the right to stop me saying what I want to say, or my access to sites I want to visit. That's what the government is trying to do - that's what this issue should be about.

12:00:18 PM    comment []  trackback []