The arrest of a journalist, Prashant Kanojia, by the UP Police has led to major controversy on social media. Prashant Kanojia was booked on Saturday by the Uttar Pradesh police on charges of trying to malign the image of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with an objectionable comment on Twitter. The head of a Noida-based news channel that had broadcast the video Prashant Kanojia posted has also been arrested, along with one of the editors of the channel.
Ishq chupta nahi chupaane se yogi ji pic.twitter.com/dPIexKheou
— Prashant Kanojia (@KanojiaPJ) June 6, 2019
An FIR was lodged against Kanojia at Lucknow’s Hazratganj police station under Sections 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 500 (defamation) of the IPC, and Section 67 of The Information Technology Act (publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) on a complaint filed by Sub-Inspector Vikas Kumar, Investigating Officer Sub-Inspector Vijender Mishra said.
Social media is split over the arrest. Many people termed Kanojia’s arrest as justified due to the objectionable content he posted, while some people termed the arrest arbi In a bid to support their claims various users dug out old tweets by Prashant Kanojia and shared those over twitter to clear out the air.
Author A Ranganathan also posted a compilation of old tweets by Prashant Kanojia. He tweeted :
“This Wire journalist is everything a journalist should not be. He is a brainwashed, abusive, communal bigot, spreading filth against Hindus – Dalits and non-Dalits. I disagree with EVERYTHING that emerges from his pen and mouth, but I CONDEMN his arrest. I stand with Kanojia.”
This Wire journalist is everything a journalist should not be. He is a brainwashed, abusive, communal bigot, spreading filth against Hindus – Dalits and non-Dalits.
I disagree with EVERYTHING that emerges from his pen and mouth, but I CONDEMN his arrest.
I stand with Kanojia. pic.twitter.com/5VBU5lziVC
— Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) June 9, 2019
On the other hand, an Emeritus Professor and former DG, IIMC, Prof KG Suresh also pointed out that Kanojia was suspended from the IIMC for abusing a senior faculty. He tweeted:
“It’s a shame to call this serial abuser, troll & hate monger a journalist. He was suspended from @IIMC_India for abusing a senior faculty. Criminals r criminals. Period. @myogiadityanath”
It's a shame to call this serial abuser, troll & hate monger a journalist. He was suspended from @IIMC_India for abusing a senior faculty. Criminals r criminals. Period. @myogiadityanath https://t.co/irp67RUBUd
— Prof (Dr) K G Suresh (@kg_suresh) June 8, 2019
Prashnat Kanojia has, in the past, posted some derogatory comments against Dalits which was highlighted by another twitter user.
And naturally, @nitinraut_inc has no problems that Prashant Kanojia called Dalits animals. As a Congressi, as long as intent was to attack Hindus, it is good. https://t.co/92E6iDfkhu
— Sankrant Sanu सानु संक्रान्त ਸੰਕ੍ਰਾਂਤ ਸਾਨੁ (@sankrant) June 8, 2019
Founding Editor of The Wire S Vardharajan, where Prashant Kanojia was a former employee at also came forward and made remarks against the arrest. He tweeted: “Shocking for UP cops to arrest anyone for posting this news clip with a comment of his own. Adityanath perhaps doesn’t know this woman and may consider the fact that Prashant took her claim of having video-chatted with him at face value ‘objectionable’. But arrest is abuse of law”
Shocking for UP cops to arrest anyone for posting this news clip with a comment of his own. Adityanath perhaps doesn't know this woman and may consider the fact that Prashant took her claim of having video-chatted with him at face value 'objectionable'. But arrest is abuse of law https://t.co/A8wcfwnW5L
— Siddharth (@svaradarajan) June 8, 2019
However S Varadarajan’s tweet misses out the reasons for Prashant Kanojia’s arrest as mentioned in the Press Release of the UP Police.
Many users on Twitter also pointed out several instances of Prashant Kanojia posting unverified news content.
https://twitter.com/NetajiBond/status/1137420213530402816
Whether the arrest of Kanojia was justified or not is now for the court to decide but as is evident he has spread disinformation, defamatory contents and unverified news unabashedly on social media platforms.
