New Delhi: Union ministers Amit Shah and S. Jaishankar led the chorus of protest that erupted in the BJP following Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami’s arrest Wednesday.
The Shiv Sena, which is in office in Maharashtra with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress, said being a journalist didn’t grant Goswami immunity from the charges against him. The Congress, meanwhile, accused the BJP of hypocrisy in its calls for freedom of the press, citing the arrest last month of a Kerala journalist who is believed to have been on his way to Hathras, Uttar Pradesh — led by the BJP — to cover the alleged gang rape and murder of a 20-year-old Dalit woman.
Goswami was arrested by Maharashtra Police Wednesday morning in connection with a 2018 case in which he is accused of abetting the suicide of an architect and his mother by allegedly not paying him for an assignment.
Goswami’s arrest led several senior BJP leaders to train their guns at Maharashtra’s ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) combine, with many describing it as a throwback to the days of the Emergency under former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Home Minister Shah called Goswami’s arrest a “blatant misuse of state power”, saying “Congress and its allies have shamed democracy once again”.
Congress and its allies have shamed democracy once again.
Blatant misuse of state power against Republic TV & Arnab Goswami is an attack on individual freedom and the 4th pillar of democracy.
It reminds us of the Emergency. This attack on free press must be and WILL BE OPPOSED.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 4, 2020
His external affairs colleague Jaishankar suggested the decision had “shades of Emergency”.
Shades of the Emergency!
The arrest of Arnab Goswami is an attack on the freedom of press. Those who really believe in this freedom must speak up!— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 4, 2020
BJP national president J.P. Nadda said the journalist’s arrest is “another instance of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi-directed antic of silencing those who disagree with them”.
“India didn’t forgive Indira Gandhi for the Emergency. India never forgave Rajiv Gandhi for his assault on press freedom. And now, India will again punish Sonia-Rahul Gandhi for their brazen and intimidating use of state power to get equal with journalists,” Nadda added.
India didn’t forgive Indira Gandhi for the Emergency. India never forgave Rajiv Gandhi for his assault on press freedom. And now, India will again punish Sonia-Rahul Gandhi for their brazen and intimidating use of state power to get equal with journalists.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) November 4, 2020
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya, and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad were among the other party leaders who decried Goswami’s arrest.
A Black Day for Indian demoracy.
I strongly condemn the assault on senior journalist #ArnabGoswami by Mumbai police. Vendetta politics should be stopped and freedom of press should be maintained in Maharashtra by releasing Mr Goswami immediately.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) November 4, 2020
.@republic Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami physically assaulted & arrested by Mumbai police is nothing but muzzling freedom of press by the vindictive M'rashtra govt. Strongly condemn this shameless politically motivated Mumbai police action. It's like Emergency days in Maharashtra
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) November 4, 2020
आज जो अर्नब गोस्वामी के साथ हुआ वो कल आप के साथ भी हो सकता है ..यदि आप असत्य के ख़िलाफ़ आवाज़ नहीं उठाते!!
“समर शेष है, नहीं पाप का भागी केवल व्याध
जो तटस्थ हैं, समय लिखेगा उनके भी अपराध”#IndiaStandaWithArnab
— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) November 4, 2020
The arrest of senior journalist #ArnabGoswami is seriously reprehensible, unwarranted and worrisome. We had fought for freedoms of Press as well while opposing the draconian Emergency of 1975.
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) November 4, 2020
Maharashtra government’s highhandedness is appalling. Their assault on Arnab Goswami and Republic is an act of vengeance because they questioned Sonia Gandhi’s silence on Palghar. If you didn’t know what Emergency looked like, Congress has rolled it out again! Sena-NCP complicit.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) November 4, 2020
Those in the free press who don’t stand up today in support of Arnab, you are now tactically in support of fascism. You may not like him, you may not approve of him,you may despise his very existence but if you stay silent you support suppression. Who speaks if you are next ?
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) November 4, 2020
Strongly condemn this attack on freedom of press in Maharashtra. This fascist move is a sign of undeclared emergency.
Assaulting journalist #ArnabGoswami is an example of misuse of power. We must all stand up against this attack on India’s democracy.
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) November 4, 2020
I don’t think that this arrest will either frighten or silence Arnab Goswami. It will enhance his appeal and make the Shiv Sena and Congress appear ridiculous. As for India’s liberals…
— Swapan Dasgupta (@swapan55) November 4, 2020
Arnab whole country is with you.We have seen the press censorship & torture to IE Ramnath Goenka,Kuldeep Nayyar during Emergency.#ArnabWeAreWithYou @Republic_Bharat @republic
— Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) November 4, 2020
Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said Goswami’s arrest brings back “memories of the Emergency”.
We may disagree with journalists, or dislike their views, but to use brute force against Freedom of Expression brings back memories of the Emergency.
This selective outrage is what real fascism is all about.
Speak up now or you will regret it, sooner rather than later.
— Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) November 4, 2020
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Goswami is paying the price for “exposing” the Congress party.
Arnab is paying the price of exposing every plot and move by Congress party to protect & encourage the ones instigating communal violence.
Who is sheltering Tukde Tukde Gang & Palghar priest murderers?
India wants an answer from Sonia ji & Rahul Gandhi !#EmergencyInMaharashtra
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) November 4, 2020
Also Read: Republic TV editors booked for report on ‘rebellion’ against Mumbai Police commissioner
Reactions from Shiv Sena, Congress
Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi responded to the criticism by asking “under which IPC sections or Press Freedoms are journalists allowed exemption from payment of their dues?”
Can someone guide me under which IPC sections or Press Freedoms are journalists allowed exemption from payment of their dues?
Also where they are allowed exemption from death probe in which they have been explicitly named? #AskingForAFriend— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) November 4, 2020
“Can someone tell me what cases are applicable on defaulters who don’t pay up on terms agreed upon in an agreement. What if non payment of dues leads to the aggrieved party taking extreme step of taking own life&in the suicide note mention their reason? Should law apply or not?” Chaturvedi added.
Can someone tell me what cases are applicable on defaulters who don’t pay up on terms agreed upon in an agreement.
What if non payment of dues leads to the aggrieved party taking extreme step of taking own life&in the suicide note mention their reason?
Should law apply or not?— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) November 4, 2020
Youth Congress leader Srivatsa said Goswami is “crying like a baby that he was assaulted by the Police” even though he had “applauded & even demanded Police Brutality against citizens during the anti-CAA protests”.
Arnab applauded & even demanded Police Brutality against citizens during the anti-CAA protests,
Is now crying like a baby that he was assaulted by the Police!
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) November 4, 2020
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed hit out at Shah for coming out in support of Goswami while never speaking up about the Kerala journalist, who was slapped with the draconian Unlawful Activities Protection Act (UAPA).
Did @AmitShah speak up when a journalist from Kerala was arrested & slapped with the draconian UAPA for simply reporting on the Hathras case? #ArnabGoswami has been arrested for allegedly abetting a suicide, not for his journalism (or lack thereof) https://t.co/dX59dDZioc
— Shama Mohamed (@drshamamohd) November 4, 2020
Also Read: Editors Guild calls Arnab Goswami arrest ‘extremely distressing’, asks for fair treatment
Why did not Shah and Jaishankar lead a protest against China after Indian land was taken ? Why are they so concerned about a local nobody ?
Proposal to increase retirement age, cut down pension in armed forces irks officers, veterans
Let’s cut short the bullshit. An ordinary citizen has accused the anchor of abetment to suicide of her family members. She has waited for a long time for her case to be addressed. The Maharashtra government has nothing to do with it. The Mumbai police are just doing their job.
Let the justice system deal with it. Let Arnab be acquitted quickly if he is not proven guilty. He should not be harassed by police whatsoever like the way he harassed others and spread hate in his channel. The police should show professionalism in handling him and respect his rights. But all are equal before the law. It goes without saying that the rights of the ordinary citizen must also be respected and justice should be demonstrated.
Many of us would not mind if Cowswami is encountered in the Indian tradition that he symbolises. He has been using his office to carry out RSS-BJP agenda, constantly spewing hate.
It’s not that Arnab is a saint
But this is pure vendetta at its best
Hypocritical fools like Shah and Irani are talking about Democracy as though they religiously followed it. Do they even know the meaning of that word. If they did, then they would have protested against the Hathras incident.
It may be that emergency like powers are being used cleverly by Uddhav. But he is not the first. Shah and Co have used such powers to stall the CBI probe into the Karnataka mining scam, to open a 2011 IT return of Rahul which was closed long ago and to discharge many accused form serious cases even before trial It is just that Shah has met his match in Uddhav.
Maharashtra now reminds us of Colombia.
The decrepit rust bucket of a joke – the Congress party is showing how much “criminal power” it still wields in this country.
Is this how low we have fallen that the Central Government will turn a blind eye towards the lawlessness in Maharashtra?
Are they afraid of Sonia G?
Now we know when Godi chief is poked who feels the prick….
For me 1 minister’s tweet stood out:
‘Minister of Women and Child development’ comments angrily within couple of hours about a Chamcha noise box being arrested.
Takes 1 week to be angry about Rahul Gandhi visiting Hathras, but not a word for the victim.
Well, all political parties have an agenda in supporting or opposing the arrest of Arnab Goswami. But, most absurd post is by Priyanka Chaturvedi, who quit congress to Join SS. She must consult someone who knows law before posing the eloquently stupid questions. If one owes money to another and does not pay, it is a civil dispute to be decided by a civil court. How do Mah Police exercise jurisdiction in a civil case. They ought to have turned down the complaint of the Architect’s daughter. But, Priyanka Chaturvedi is too busy to pay attention to facts and law.
There was a suicide note left. This case fully requires investigation and a trial.