Politics erupts over Arnab Goswami's arrest, BJP calls it attack on free press

The Police on Wednesday arrested Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director of Republic Media Network Arnab Goswami for abetment to suicide in a 2018 case, which had been closed earlier and has now been reopened. Goswami was charged under Section 306 and Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Taking to Twitter, Union Minister Smriti Irani said, “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 ?”

Condemning the arrest, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “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.”

BJP leader Sambit Patra also condemned Goswami’s arrest and said, “What happened to Arnab Goswami today may be with you tomorrow too.. If you don't raise a voice against falsehood!”

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh tweeted, “Physically assaulted & arrested of @republic Editor-in-Chief #ArnabGoswami by Mumbai police is an attack on press freedom. I strongly condemn such politically motivated act of the #Maharashtra govt. #IndiaWithArnab”

Delhi BJP MLA Vijender Gupta said, “Assaulting and arresting a nationalist like #ArnabGoswami for speaking truth to power proves that Maharashtra today is being ruled by fascists. They came to power trampling upon the democratic mandate & are now exercising brute force to silence their critics. #ArnabWeAreWithYou”