When a High Court judge says that it is possible to impose China-like internet controls, one wonders whether we still believe in a liberal democracy?

The case is the ongoing dispute between the government and a series of websites (Google and Facebook among the prominent ones) about censorship. The Reuters headline India court warns Web giants about China-style controls portrays a country that seems quite ready to abandon free speech in a quixotic quest for a clean internet.

The story is everywhere from Indian newspapers like the Hindustan Times and the Times of India to international tech-oriented sites such as the Register and Ars Technica. The Wall Street Journal’s blog interviewed Vinay Rai, who filed the lawsuits. WSJ calls him India’s censorship crusader. What is absolutely incredible is that he is himself a journalist. Why would a journalist pursue censorship? Is there a hidden agenda here?

We will soon be the laughing stock of the world as the world’s largest democracy starts on the road to fascism.