While it pains me to have to write this email, I implore you to uphold the basic rights of us citizens of India to have free and open access to all parts of the Internet without interference from the service providers.

While we already pay for the service rendered, our transactions should be limited to just that. The service providers should not have a say in the manner in which we choose to use our Internet. It is like a telephone company providing us with the telephone lines, but telling us who we can call, and that certain calls will charge extra. How absurd is the very idea! It is akin to blackmail!

This is a fundamental breach of privacy and should not be entertained at all. It is also based in discrimination, as companies which do not agree to the terms and conditions of the service provider will have their access throttled.

The internet is an open space where freedom of speech is upheld. Giving in to the demands of telecom giants is a slippery slope into a rigid system where the power no longer lies with the people of the country but with the corporates.

We are already in the age of the Internet. Please help us keep it free. Protect net neutrality. I implore you to discard the petitions made against it.

Thanks and Regards,

Aarudra Moudgalya.