Republic Media Network is being relentlessly targeted by those who are known to have fascist-like tendencies, and some may even say, a fascist background. The same is being brazenly displayed by Sonia Gandhi’s proxies in Maharashtra, who for quite some time now have prioritized institutionally harassing Arnab Goswami instead of seeking solutions to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, number of cases due to which are surging in the state everyday.
Yesterday, Republic Media Network’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), S Sundaram was called in for ‘questioning’ by the NM Joshi Marg Police Station in Mumbai, at the behest of a Congress leader in Maharashtra who seems to be particularly disturbed by the network’s relentless questioning of Sonia Gandhi and her minions.
One of India’s top media professionals, our CFO S Sundaram is being interrogated by the Mumbai Police since this morning. Here’s our statement on media queries: pic.twitter.com/hE3CD5Jg0s
— Republic (@republic) May 2, 2020
S Sundaram, who is no novice to the media industry, was questioned by Mumbai Police for a marathon seven long hours. Why? Because he happens to work as an executive for a media network which the current political establishment of Maharashtra has grown a particular distaste for.
After the rigorous questioning of a man who was unnecessarily dragged into the squabble which should ideally have been limited to Arnab Goswami and Sonia Gandhi, S Sundaram said, “We have maintained that we will provide full co-operation with the Mumbai police and we have done so. I was asked about the company background and such matters today (by Mumbai Police). There were some questions as to how the program was recorded and broadcasted. I was not questioned anything on Palghar.”
It must be remembered that on Monday last week, Republic Media Network Editor-in-Chief and MD, Arnab Goswami was also ‘interrogated’ for 12 hours relentlessly, as though he was part of some large criminal conspiracy looking to destabilize the nation. But when the police force becomes a mere tool for political parties to play with and use to their advantage, such acts of brazen overreach come as no surprise.
The Maha Vikas Aghadi, which comprises of the Congress, NCP, and also the Shiv Sena is trying its best to somehow muzzle the free press in Maharashtra, violently so, and ensure that nobody dares question any constituent of the unholy and bound-to-fail alliance. What the latest act by the alliance partners suggests, is that nobody is allowed to question their newfound political godmother, i.e., Sonia Gandhi. Those who will shall be made to face law enforcement agencies and will be treated like criminals.
Why should the Mumbai Police call in Republic Media Network’s CFO for questioning? Is the Mumbai Police now empowered to question people for baseless notions of financial fraud and funneling as well? On what grounds did they interrogate S Sundaram? Will they care to explain? Absolutely not. Since they have decided to abandon all integrity perhaps, to please their new political masters.
Read: Arnab Goswami – the man who Congress fears the most after PM Modi and Amit Shah
The CFO’s statement after the completion of the ‘interrogation’ suggests that the Police was not interested in the Palghar lynching case, but rather in the financial details of Republic Media Network. Common sense would dictate that the establishment of Maharashtra is now using the police to gather the financial details of a media network that rightfully asks questions of them. Further, this development sets a very bad precedent and shows that governments can hound top executives of unfriendly media houses and extract crucial information from them whenever they deem fit, backed with no facts, of course.
If the attack on Arnab Goswami wasn’t already enough, the Maha Vikas Aghadi is now relentlessly trying to sniff around the senior journalist and somehow get hold of any sort of information, which it could use to its advantage to incriminate Arnab. What else can be a possible explanation to the seven hour-long questioning of a person who has nothing to do with the controversy surrounding Sonia Gandhi and Arnab Goswami?
This is a blatant attempt to intimidate the media and show them who the ‘boss’ is. However, Arnab Goswami is not facing such legal threats for the first time. While Sonia Gandhi and her minions are doing all they can to muzzle his voice, it is without a doubt but given that Arnab Goswami will emerge stronger than before. The only loser in this fight will be Sonia Gandhi, who would have portrayed to the world that questioning her would invite criminal action of magnanimous proportions.