Cabinet Ministers on Wednesday came out in support of Republic TV editor and senior journalist Arnab Goswami, condemning the Mumbai police’s move to arrest him and compared it to the 19-month Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in 1975.
Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted, “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.”
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani exhorted everyone who believed in a free press to speak out. 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?”
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal called the arrest an attack on India’s democracy. “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,” Mr. Goyal tweeted.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also invoked the Emergency. He tweeted, “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!”
BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda, in a tweet, said that the arrest was at the behest of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi. He tweeted, “Every person who believes in a free press and freedom of expression is furious at the Maharashtra Government’s bullying and harassment of Arnab Goswami. This is yet another instance of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi-directed action of silencing those who disagree with them. Shameful!”
He 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.”
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the Congress-Shiv Sena government of displaying undemocratic brutality to crush voice of dissent. “Although emergency was defeated in 1977,the mentality is still alive!Today,supporters of emergency-Congress&Shivsena displaying the same undemocratic brutality to crush any voice of dissent.India has always fought such forces&struggle will continue,” he tweeted.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra at a press conference said the "dastardly act against the press is an attack not only on the fundamental rights of the press, the reporters and the editors, but also on the core of this democracy".
"On one hand Sonia ji writes an article about death of democracy and Rahul ji says he practices poltics of love. Iis this the politics of love?", Mr. Patra asked.
Law will take its own course: Congress
Reacting to the development, the Congress on Wednesday said that the 'law will take its own course' and asserted that no 'innocent person will be punished'.
"I am absolutely certain that wherever the Congress is in power or in alliance, people will not be punished if they are absolutely innocent. I also believe that the law will take its own course in this case. We don't interfere with institutions," party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate responded at a press conference when asked to comment on the arrest of Mr. Goswami.