Independence is not freedom.

In an ominous report on Bloomberg, Saritha Rai wrote, "India's latest e-commerce policy draft includes steps that could help local startups and impose government oversight on how companies handle data." "The proposed rules would also mandate government access to online companies' source codes and algorithms, which the ministry says would help ensure against 'digitally induced biases' by competitors." "E-commerce companies will be required to make data available to the government within 72 hours, which include information related to national security, taxation and law and order, it said." In short, it is a comprehensive plan of surveillance of citizens. This, by the same government that refuses to answer what happened to over Rs 100 billion raised by PM Cares fund to help victims of coronavirus. "There is no answer to any of these queries on the PM Cares website, and the prime minister's office (PMO), which is managing the fund, has refused to provide any information," reported BBC. A journalist was arrested for calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a "gappu", which means "one who bluffs", and yet, Modi has never lost an opportunity to abuse Congress President Rahul Gandhi. While spending $400 million on a Statue of Unity the Modi government has been routinely using the British Law of sedition against anyone daring to criticise it. "Official data reveal as many as 332 people were arrested under the sedition law between 2016 and 2018, though only seven were convicted" reported USNews. Modi is not alone. The previous Congress-led government forced Blackberry to hand over its encryption code. Now the government is after WhatsApp which has end-to-end encryption and, "For added protection, every message you send has its own unique lock and key." Blackberry is a Canadian company, while WhatsApp is owned by Facebook, which is American. Modi humiliated Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife on their visit to India but he did not omit any detail on President Donald Trump's visit to India. Four months later Trump suspended H1B, L and other temporary work permits which help mainly Indian technology workers. What will Modi do if Apple refuses to unlock one of its phones used by a criminal or an opponent of Modi, when it refused to do so for the US government? Mind you, Modi laid on an equally lavish welcome for China President Xi Jinping. Eight months later the whole nation watched teary-eyed funerals of 20 soldiers murdered in a surprise ambush by cowardly Chinese troops. Modi is looking to eliminate the slightest opposition through surveillance and intimidation which will enable him to rule for life but that will lose him all respect, especially in the US and Europe. We are terrified of him. 15 August is Independence Day. We would like some freedom.