The Hypocrisy behind celebrating Arnab Goswami's arrest
Opinion
On 4th November, Arnab Goswami was arrested by the Mumbai Police in connection with a 2018 suicide case. Arnab’s name was mentioned in the suicide note of an architect who claimed fraud. The case that had been closed for a couple of years due to lack of evidence but was suddenly re-opened by Maharashtra Home Minister, Anil Deshmukh’s directive.
Over the last month, the Mumbai police has reportedly been filing a large number of FIRs against Republic TV reporters. Republic TV had blamed the Maharashtra government and the Mumbai police for mishandling the Sushant Singh case and they allege that these arrests were a revenge for the same. This arrest also comes in the midst of TRP mishandling allegations against Republic TV.
While I do not endorse Arnab’s journalism, his arrest is not fair, and questionably legal- the timing, the manner and the basis of arrest are all controversial. While people may believe that Arnab ‘deserves’ this arrest, it is not up to the public to make that judgement. A decision should be taken only after proper legal procedures.
Does this argument sound familiar to you? The same arguments were made (and correctly so) for Rhea Chakraborty’s arrest.
You simply cannot stand for fair procedures for a person you like, and tolerate (and even celebrate) unfair procedures for a person you do not like. Irrespective of your political inclination, if you’re celebrating this arrest, you’re encouraging a party using power for its own gains. Isn’t that what the left stands against?
Additionally, this entire issue has actually made a hero out of Arnab. Until 4th November, he was a right-biased journalist. Today, he is the victim of selective outrage of the state government who was unfairly dragged out of his home. Seriously- which side is the opposition playing for?