Smriti Irani condemns Arnab Goswami's arrest, urges free press to stand up against fascism

Reacting to shameful physical assault and arrest of Republic Media Network's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami by Mumbai Police on Wednesday morning, Union Minister Smriti Irani asserted that those in free press who do t stand up today in support of Arnab are "w tactically in support of fascism."

'Who speaks if you are next?'

Taking to Twitter, Women and Child Development Minister said, "You may t like him, you may t approve of him, you may despise his very existence but if you stay silent you support suppression. Who speaks if you are next?"

'My son was beaten-up'

On Wednesday morning, entire country witnessed operation of a police state in Maharashtra. At 7:45 am, Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami house was encircled, his home was barged into, cameras forcefully turned off, he was physically assaulted and dragged out of his home in a police van. Arnab was t served summons prior and t even allowed access to his legal team. 

As Arnab was being manhandled and pushed into a police van, by a battalion of armed police officers, he said, “y hit me. y physically assaulted me. I want to tell people of India to fight for us.” He said, “my son was beaten-up.”

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With regard to his legal team, Arnab Goswami was blocked by Mumbai Police vis-a-vis having legal aid present. Encounter cop Sachin Vaze declared to Republic TV - Arnab Goswami has been arrested under grave section of 306 of IPC, in a mocked-up case. It may be recalled that fake charges of suicide were levelled against Arnab Goswami in 2018.   matter was investigated by Mumbai Police and closed by a court of law after a closure report by police ted that case was me out.

Mumbai Police also blocked Republic Executive Editor Niranjan Narayanswamy and Senior Associate Editor Sanjay Pathak from entering Arnab's residence. When Niranjan said that it is his right to report, he was thrown out of building and Mumbai Police wanted his phone.

RE | Mumbai Police at Arnab Goswami's residence; Over a dozen officers; summons, papers

RE | Arnab Goswami assaulted & arrested by Police; Republic asks Indians to defend democracy