If a journalist is punished for questioning the government then a time will come that students will fear to opt for journalism as their career.
Let’s just check the timeline :
- Palghar Lynching
- Mishandling of Covid-19 situation in the state
- Disha Salian’s Death
- Sushant Singh’s Death
- Media Questions Police and Administration over the Investigation
- Arnab is questioned by Mumbai Police for 11 hours.
- The case reaches the Supreme Court and it is transferred to CBI
- ‘Baby Penguin’ tweet lands a person in jail
- Supreme Court gives relief to Arnab Goswami by assuring him his freedom of speech
- NCB joins the probe
- ED also comes into action
- NCB opens the pandora box called ‘Bollywood & Drugs’
- Big names come out during the investigation
- Rhea is arrested
- Government & Police are questioned by the media for keeping a blind eye to all this
- Kangana Ranaut opens up on Drugs in Bollywood
- Shiv Sena attacks Kangana
- BMC (controlled by Shiv Sena) demolishes her office in Mumbai – going against the COvid-19 rules set by HC
- Sanjay Raut uses derogatory language for the female actress
- Home Ministry provides Y+ Security to Kangana Ranaut
- A Navy Veteran is beaten up by Shiv Sena goons for sharing a cartoon of Udhav Thackeray on Twitter.
- Media questions the in-actions of Police on Drugs, Veteran attack, Shiv Sena goons, Sushant Singh’s Death, Disha Salian’s Death, etc.
- Republic TV journalist is arrested by Mumbai Police and kept in jail for 3 days.
- Arnab questions Param Bir Singh, commissioner Mumbai Police on the actions of Mumbai Police.
- Param Bir Singh gives a Press Conference and accuses Republic TV of TRP Scam and shows an FIR that has been registered against them. He threatens that every employee – big or small will under
- The FIR comes out to be against INDIA TODAY and not Republic TV. The report against which the FIR was registered names INDIA TODAY. The name of the report is HANSA REPORT.
- Republic TV files case against Param Bir Singh in the Supreme Court
- Mumbai Police summons Republic TV Top Bosses.
- Other Media houses attack Republic TV – No unity among the media houses. Media houses again run a story without fact-checking.
- Bollywood Production houses and associations file case against Republic TV and Times Now under article 15 of the Cable Network Act.
- Maharastra Government brings privilege motion in the state assembly with forming any Privilege Committee.
- Maharastra Assembly gives Arnab 10 minute notice to appear in the assembly – even though there is a pending case in Supreme Court.
- Sandeep Singh files a defamation case against Arnab Goswami.
- Pradeep Bhandari is called by Mumbai Police even though he has got anticipatory bail. His phone is confiscated by the Mumbai Police.
- DCP Crime Branch transferred because he is gave an informal press conference saying that there is no evidence against Arnab Goswami & Republic TV.
….these are few of the main events. There might be some points missing, please let us know in the comments.
Now from the above timeline it seems that a state government is after a News Media Company for questioning its administration. The state government is using its power and resources to literally harass the news channel or there is more than what meets the eye?
Democracy is the what defines our constitution & Freedom of Speech is its backbone. A government that cannot tolerate criticism is not a democractic government. You cannot get better if you don’t take criticsm constructively. And stop acting like there is No Constitution that even the State Government comes under it.
People of India have power in their hands. People are watching all this. And People will decide.
Jai Hind
