Arnab Goswami’s arrest reflects ‘totalitarian tendency’ to weaken fourth pillar of democracy: Rajnath Singh

Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that the arrest of journalist Arnab Goswami reflects the ‘totalitarian tendency’ to weaken the fourth pillar of democracy and suppress the voice of protest.

“The treatment of senior journalist Arnab Goswami is a symbol of the totalitarian tendency to weaken the fourth pillar of democracy and suppress the voice of protest. Congress should take note of the many instances, including the emergency, that the governments that oppress the press have suffered the wrath of fate,” Rajnath Singh tweeted.

Meanwhile, BJP chief Jagat Prakash Nadda said that the way Goswami was arrested shows the mentality of the Congress party and Maharashtra Government.

“The way Republic TV’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami was arrested, it shows the mentality of Congress party and Maharashtra Government. It is a big blow to the principles of democracy and journalism. I condemn it,” Nadda said.

After Goswami’s arrest, Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar condemned the attack on press freedom and compared it to those of ‘Emergency days’.

“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,” Javadekar tweeted.

Goswami has been arrested in the death case of interior designer Anvay Naik, who allegedly died by suicide in Alibaug in May 2018. A suicide note purportedly written by Naik alleged that Goswami had not paid him his dues. Later, Goswami was also named in the FIR of Naik’s death case.

Goswami has alleged that he along with his mother-in-law, father-in-law, son and wife have been physically assaulted. Goswami was brought to Alibaug Police station in Raigad district in a police vehicle from his residence earlier in the day.