Media unites after Arnab's arrest: 'State intimidation unacceptable'

Mumbai Police action with regard to the forceful arrest of Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami has triggered angry reaction among the Fourth Estate. Besides taking note the nature of the arrest and the alleged political vendetta behind it, several journalists have warned that the act could set a bad precedent if left unquestioned. 

Shobhaa De, Journalist: No matter what you think of Arnab Goswami and his brand of "journalism", police action against him is shocking in a democracy. Assault and intimidation by cops is not acceptable under any circumstances!

Rahul Shivshankar, Editor-in-Chief Times Now: Agree with him or disagree with him but Arnab Goswami's arrest crosses a line. Many are asking who next? I recall at least 2 occasions when cops showed up to arrest me on motivated charges. FOE is supreme. Introspect. 

Sankarshan Thakur, National Affairs Editor of The Telegraph: The Editors Guild has put out statement against the arrest of Arnab Goswami. The stick has been wantonly and wrongly wielded elsewhere on journalists. We are in a terrible place when politicians punish or espouse journalists along battle-lines defined by their whims and biases

Rajat Sharma, Editor-In-Chief of India TV: I condemn the sudden arrest of Arnab Goswami in an abetment to suicide case. While I don’t agree with his style of studio trial, I also don’t approve of misuse of state power to harass a journalist. A media Editor cannot be treated in this manner.

Editors' Guild: We are shocked to learn about the arrest of Arnab Goswami, editor-in-chief of Republic TV, in the early hours of Wednesday by the Police. Goswami was arrested from his Mumbai residence on reportedly an abetment to suicide case We condemn the sudden arrest and find it extremely distressing. The Guild calls upon the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to ensure that Goswami is treated fairly and state power is not used against critical reporting by the media. 

Indian Federation of Working Journalists: IFWJ has asked the state government to desist from which hunting of Arnab Goswami and the entire team of the Republic TV that he heads. This is the sheer misuse of state power against journalists, who have always volunteered to cooperate with any investigation of the police. After all, Arnab has never tried to flee from the country, and he has always made himself available for any interrogation. IFWJ has also appealed to all journalists of the country to sink their differences to support Arnab Goswami and his team which has been fiercely espousing the nationalistic journalism and exposing those elements, who have been dancing to the tunes of dons.