Northeast Indian leaders condemn "assault and arrest" of Republic TV Head Arnab Goswami

Guwahati: Several Northeast Indian leaders have condemned the arrest of Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami. The leaders, either from the ruling BJP party or its allies, have sought justice for the arrested journalist.
Taking to Twitter, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal termed today as a "black day."

"I strongly condemn the assault on senior journalist #ArnabGoswami by Mumbai police. Vendetta politics should be stopped and freedom of press should be maintained in Maharashtra by releasing Mr Goswami immediately," he wrote.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said Goswami's arrest is an "attack on press freedoms." "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," he wrote.

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Pema Khandu, the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, wrote, "Arrest of reputed journalist Shri #ArnabGoswami and attack on Republic is a brazen misuse of power by #Maharashtra government. It's a direct attack on freedom of expression and attempt to stifle free voice. The act of Mumbai Police is highly condemnable."

"Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami physically assaulted & arrested by Mumbai police is nothing but muzzling freedom of press by the vindictive M'rashtra govt. Strongly condemn this shameless politically motivated Mumbai police action. It's like Emergency days in Maharashtra," wrote Assam's Finance, Health, and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh also condemned the attack on Goswami. "Are we returning to an age of facism and dictatorship in the garb of democracy? Vendetta politics exceeding all limits.Absolutely no ground to arrest Arnab Goswami.Minimum that the Maharashtra Govt can do to vindicate the freedom of press is to release him immediately," Singh wrote in a tweet.

Interestingly, Goswami has been condemned in the past for his "partisan" coverage in favour of the ruling dispensation. In the aftermath of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's arrest, Goswami ran afoul of the Mumbai Police after he accused the Commissioner of impeding an investigation into the actor's death. The Republic TV head and Mumbai police have been at loggerheads ever since.

Meanwhile, the Editors Guild of India has also decried the Republic TV Head's arrest. "We condemn the sudden arrest and find it ectremely distressing," the body wrote in a statement, adding, "The Guild calls upon the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to ensure that Goswami is treated fairly and state power is not used against the critical reporting by the media."

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