Why exactly Israel is more of an ally than the rest of Middle-East is a whole other (non)question? What really bites is the sarcasm though.
In a country widely referred to as the world’s largest democracy, the Indian government has succumbed to mounting Israeli pressure and ordered a nationwide ban on the broadcast of Arab television channels.
The Indian government’s ban on Arab television stations is in complete contrast to the friendship that Arab countries imagine exists with their neighbor across the Arabian Sea. It seems the ban is a move to ensure that Indians do not get to see the atrocities that are presently being committed by Israel in Lebanon and the occupied territories.
By the way, if you’re going to comment and say something fabulously inane like “Who in India cares about Lebanon?” or “Who cares to watch news?” or “People are not interested anyway.”, then please understand that we’re not on the same level. This has nothing to do with what a person wants to watch. But what the government doesn’t want you to see.
Update – Turns out the Indian Government wasn’t playing censor-censor after all. Thanks Sonia.
Just as an added note – Please do observe the term “What really bites is the sarcasm though.” and the idea that Israel is more of an ally being a (non)question.
Scary! It’s sad that our government takes censorship so lightly. How come this is not a big news? Or did I just miss it? Or does nobody in India care for their freedom of speech?
I’m not sure if you seen this. But I found it through The Acorn Blog.
http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/08/08/10058476.html
Apparently, the ban story is a fabrication.
Neha: I have to second Sonia. Here’s Nitin Pai’s take on this. We can sometimes too quickly jump to conclusions. The Indian Government machinery is capable of being stupid, but that does not imply that they have evil designs every time something happens. This sort of argument is too reactionary and too commie for my taste.
Twisted DNA: As Sonia points out – the story isn’t true – so yeah things are a degree better. :)
Sonia: Thanks so much. Post updated.
Anand: I don’t trust the State. Which is precisely why I have an almost paranoid reaction when it comes to censorship. If anything – commies love the State and the paternalistic handling of issues – even if they call it a dictatorship of the proletariot.
I don’t know if it is reactionary – it is incomplete – yes. Banning of channels isn’t entirely unbelievable. The state may not be evil – but it can be downright idiotic most of the times.
Neha: I make a distinction between not-trusting-the-state and not-trusting-the-government. The idea of fighting the institution of the state is an entirely different debate. Also, I should have clarified my ‘commie’ allegation. ‘Indian-commie’ would have been more precise. The Indian Commie has no choice but to trust the Indian state, but they make it a point to not trust the government and be idiotically reactionary. Apart from that, the Indian-commie mistrusts the American and the Israeli ‘State’ (not just the government). This is utterly stupid.
Plus, I do not see it as being incumberant on India to be pally with the Arabs and not the Israelis, for reasons other than what reality dictates. This is where I find the “friendship that Arab countries imagine exists with their neighbor across the Arabian Sea”, a little too unrealistic, and ‘Natwar-Singh’i (dead horse I know). The Arab states cannot take NAM style Indian loyalty for granted. Especially when we know where their loyalty lies when it comes to Indian foreign policy issues.
Anand:
I don’t think Niha’s reaction was unreasonable. I belived the news when I wrote my comment and my reaction was similar. The thought didn’t come into my mind that it may not be true. I was quite shocked. As I said, Indian government has a tendency to take censorship lightly, illustrated by cases such as banning some blogs, banning Da Vinci Code or, some time ago, Satanic Verses. So, yes, I think it’s right to show a knee-jerk reaction when the govt does something suspicious.
Well Twisted, my point remains the same. There is a lot of merit in assuming the Indian ‘Government’ can be stupid. But assuming a default evil in the ‘State’ is ‘Indian Commie’!