BJP Leaders Slam Arnab’s Arrest; Maha Govt Says ‘Nobody Above Law’
Goswami was arrested for allegedly abetting suicide of interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother in 2018.
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Several Union Ministers and BJP leaders including Home Minister Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Smriti Irani, Prakash Javadekar, Ravi Shankar, Piyush Goyal and others condemned the arrest of Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswam as a “misuse of State power” and an “attack on free press and democracy.”
The Maharashtra Police on Wednesday, 4 November, arrested Goswami for allegedly abetting suicide of a 53-year-old interior designer Anvay Naik and his mother Kumud Naik in 2018.
Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter to say that the Congress and its allies have “shamed the democracy again.”
IT Minister Prakash Javadekar called it an attack on freedom of press in Maharashtra.
Union Minister Smriti Irani said that those who don’t stand up for free press today practically support fascism.
While Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Ravi Shankar Prasad called it an ‘undeclared emergency’.
BJP’s National President JP Nadda, as quoted by ANI, slammed the arrest saying, “The way Republic TV's editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami was arrested, it shows the mentality of Congress party and Maharashtra Government. It is a big blow to the principles of democracy and journalism. I condemn it”
Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly condemned the arrest and told ANI: “Maharashtra Chief Minister has betrayed the trust of the nation, (he is the) completely unworthy son of Balasaheb Thackeray. He has defamed his late father, Maharashtra and the country. I heard that the Mumbai Police Commissioner was a strong officer but just to arrest Arnab Goswami he deployed cops with AK-47, which means he is the most coward officer in entire India”.
‘Nobody Above Law’: Maharashtra Govt Defends Arrest
Maharashtra’s Home Minister Anil Deshmukh stood by the arrest.
“No one is above the law. Maharashtra Police will work as per the law,” he was quoted by ANI as saying.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut defended the Thackeray government and said, “The law is followed in Maharashtra. Police can take action if they have evidence against anyone. Since the formation of Thackeray government, no action has been taken against anyone for revenge.”
‘Deserves No Sympathies’
Congress and AAP-leaning social media handles, on the other hand, said that the journalist “deserved no sympathies” for being arrested.
‘Distressing’: Editors Guild Condemns Arrest
The Editors Guild has expressed shock on Arnab Goswami’s arrest, and said that it finds it distressing.
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