Prakash Javadekar reacts to Arnab Goswami’s arrest: ‘Reminds us of emergency days’

Prakash Javadekar, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister on Wednesday reacted to Mumbai Police's raid on Republic TV owner and Chief Editor Arnab Goswami's home. 

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"

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: Prakash Javadekar, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister pic.twitter.com/Am3IUMBpdg

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2020

The Mumbai Police on Wednesday morning raided the home of Goswami and took him to their crime branch office. The channel slammed the move for "parading the editor of a top Indian news channel like a criminal, pulled by the hair, threatened, not allowed to drink water".

Goswami has alleged that he has been physically assaulted by the Mumbai Police. 

Goswami had earlier been booked in two cases related to his alleged provocative remarks and defaming Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi in a television debate on Palghar mob lynching incident and Bandra station crowding incident report at NM Joshi Marg police station and Pydhonie police station respectively.

The two cases were registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including provocation with intent to cause riots, defamation, statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes, criminal intimidation, and criminal conspiracy.

Screenshots of Republic TV channel showing Mumbai police entering Arnab Goswami’s residence and what appears to be a scuffle inside https://t.co/wUlFrNX108pic.twitter.com/3kmnUy81BP

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2020

#WATCH Republic TV Editor Arnab Goswami detained and taken in a police van by Mumbai Police, earlier today pic.twitter.com/ytYAnpauG0

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2020