Arnab Goswami arrested: Prakash Javadekar, Smriti Z Irani condemn alleged physically assault on Republic TV Editor, slams Maharashtra govt

New Delhi: The Maharashtra Police’s Raigad unit on Wednesday morning raided the home of Republic TV owner and arrested its Chief Editor Arnab Goswami in an abetment to suicide case.

A senior police officer Sachin Vaze said that Goswami was arrested in the abetment to a suicide case of 2018, which had been closed earlier and has now been reopened.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday condemned Mumbai Police’s action against Republic TV editor-in-chief and said that the action of the Maharashtra government was just like the emergency.

“We condemn the attack on press freedom in Maharashtra. This is not the way to treat the Press. This reminds us of the emergency days when the press was treated like this,” the Minister tweeted.

#WATCH Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami detained and taken in a police van by Mumbai Police, earlier today pic.twitter.com/ytYAnpauG0

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2020

We condemn the attack on press freedom in #Maharashtra. This is not the way to treat the Press. This reminds us of the emergency days when the press was treated like this.@PIB_India @DDNewslive @republic

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) November 4, 2020

Union Minister Smriti Irani said if those in the free press don’t stand up today in support of Arnab Goswami, they will tactically be in support of fascism.

“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?” she tweeted.

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

Opening of a closed case and arresting Arnab Goswami clearly smacks of a vendetta. Hope the judiciary takes an appropriate view. Also hope d media bodies react appropriately.

— Ram Madhav (@rammadhavbjp) November 4, 2020

The arrest of #ArnabGoswami on flimsy grounds is yet another example of authoritarian and intolerant governance by Shiv Sena but was bound to happen as now they are in great company of emergency imposers Congress.

— Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline) November 4, 2020

Actor Kanagana Ranaut, who is at loggerheads with Maharashtra government after “illegal” part of her office was demolished in Mumbai also lashed out at Uddhav Thackeray government over the action against Goswami.

“Pappupro ko gussa kyun aata hai? Penguins ko gussa kyun aata hai? Sonia sena ko itna gussa kyun aata hai?Arnab sir let them pull your hair and assault you for the cause of free speech greats before us got hanged with smiles on their faces, Aazadi ka karz chukana hai #ArnabGoswami,” she tweeted.

Pappupro ko gussa kyun aata hai? Penguins ko gussa kyun aata hai? Sonia sena ko itna gussa kyun aata hai?Arnab sir let them pull your hair and assault you for the cause of free speech greats before us got hanged with smiles on their faces,Aazadi ka karz chukana hai #ArnabGoswami https://t.co/QcBPTnaUoR

— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) 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

अर्नब के घर में घुसकर खाकी ने जमकर तांडव किया, उनके और परिवार के साथ मारपीट हुई, महज उद्धव और गांधी परिवार को खुश करने की ख़ातिर मुंबई पुलिस ने खुद को ऐसा गिराया कि अब गिरी हुई साख को वापस पाना उसके लिए आसान ना होगा। #ArnabWeAreWithYou

— Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo (@sksingh_deo) November 4, 2020