The relationship between BJP and Arnab was made clear by the way the BJP came out in support of the arrested journalist Arnab Goswami in the case of the suicide of architect Anvay Naik and his mother. But it was not clear that the central agencies against those who raised voice against Arnab would reach there to conduct raids.
This is a very poor example of the nefarious nexus of politics and journalism, in which the reputed agencies of the country would reach out to raid an MLA for voicing against a journalist.
Raids on 10 bases
The ED, who is accustomed to raiding the leaders of opposition parties, raided the houses and offices of Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in Maharashtra on Tuesday. The raid has been done in the case of money laundering. The ED has said that raids were conducted at 10 places associated with the MLA in Thane and Mumbai. Sarnaik’s son’s office is also under ED’s target.
Sarnaik had brought the proposal
In the case of Sushant’s death, when Arnab Goswami’s channel made a rude reporting and statement against the Uddhav Thackeray government, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik came to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly against him in September. Sarnaik had also demanded the government to reopen the case of architect Anvay Naik.
‘Arnab BJP sponsored journalist’
Saranike had said that Arnab Goswami is a BJP-sponsored journalist and he continues to speak anything against non-BJP leaders. He said that in the name of freedom of media, you cannot address anyone with whatever comes to mind, that too not once. On this proposal, Minister Anil Parab had said that the law has also been passed in this house regarding the safety of journalists. But this does not mean that any journalist should consider himself a judge and present the news as final verdict.
Also read: Silent for me, vocal for Arnab Goswami: ‘The Shillong Times’ editor Patricia Mukhim resigns from EGI
Anil Parab said that action should be taken against journalists who sell journalism for money like Arnab Goswami.
Parab had told BJP MLAs who were making noise on this proposal of Saranike, that if someone says something about the Prime Minister, you get angry but why do not you come to speak about the Chief Minister!
Shiv Sena’s strong response
There has been a strong reaction from the Shiv Sena regarding the ED raid. Shiv Sena spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said that now many people understand that the Central Government has misused the ED, IT and CBI many times to pacify their opponents.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, without naming the BJP, said that he should forget the dream of coming to power in Maharashtra for the next 25 years. He said that no matter how much pressure is put on us through agencies, it does not matter. Raut warned the Center that if you have started this work today, then we know to end it.
Apart from Arnab, a motion for breach of privilege was also brought in the Assembly against Kangana Ranaut. Kangana made a fierce statement against Uddhav Thackeray. After this, Shiv Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ was chanted on BJP and Central Government.
The editorial of ‘Saamana’ wrote, ‘Mumbai city belongs to 11 crore people living in Maharashtra and here. Its insult is equivalent to treason and behind it, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs stands firmly. Any Aira-Gaira will talk rubbish about the Chief Minister of Mumbai and Maharashtra, it will not be tolerated. ‘
In Saamna it was written for Arnab and Kangana that it is wrong to bring forward and support a traitor journalist, a sold-out artist for their political agenda.