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

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

'Who speaks if you are next?'

Taking to Twitter, the Women and Child Development Minister said, "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?"

'My son was beaten-up'

On Wednesday morning, the entire country witnessed the 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 not served summons prior and not 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, “They hit me. They physically assaulted me. I want to tell the people of India to fight for us.” He said, “my son was beaten-up.”

READ | I&B Minister Javadekar condemns Arnab Goswami's assault & arrest; Slams Maharashtra govt

READ | SHOCKING: Arnab Goswami manhandled by Mumbai Police at his house; VISUALS on Camera

With regard to his legal team, Arnab Goswami was blocked by the Mumbai Police vis-a-vis having legal aid present. Encounter cop Sachin Vaze declared to Republic TV - Arnab Goswami has been arrested under the grave section of 306 of the IPC, in a mocked-up case. It may be recalled that fake charges of suicide were levelled against Arnab Goswami in 2018.  The matter was investigated by the Mumbai Police and closed by a court of law after a closure report by the police noted that no case was made out.

The 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 the building and the Mumbai Police wanted his phone.

READ | Mumbai Police at Arnab Goswami's residence; Over a dozen officers; no summons, no papers

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