The prize of freedom of expression is too high in Maharashtra as journalist Arnab Goswami has recently learned. The arrest and the subsequent brutal assault on Arnab shook the entire nation. Instead of hatching a plan to save Maharashtra from the wrath of the Wuhan coronavirus, the government of Supreme Leader Uddhav Thackeray meticulously planned “Operation Arnab” according to a recent report which only exposes the desperation and the tyranny of the Maharashtra government.
As His Highness Uddhav Thackeray heralds Emergency 2.0 in Maharashtra, the way the entire state machinery worked overtime to hatch “Operation Arnab” is shocking, to say the least.
Times of India reports that the Maharashtra Home Ministry led by NCP’s Anil Deshmukh drafted high-level 40-member team to arrest Arnab Goswami in an abetment to suicide case which was closed in 2018.
The team led by Konkan range inspector general Sanjay Mohite drafted a plan with the responsibility of the execution was tasked with encounter specialist Sachin Vaze.
“For the team led by Mohite, it was a challenging task in view of the powerful Arnab. We acted very carefully, every member of the team observed restraint despite provocation,’’ said a cabinet member to TOI.
He added, “Our people made several rounds of the building where Arnab was residing. It was a secret operation. We were fearing that if the information is leaked, Arnab may flee the city to avoid arrest.”
Such was the precision of the plan that even the person who will knock the door was pre-decided. “It was a planned operation, even small issues were taken care of. It was decided who will knock at the door, who will talk to Arnab and his family members and what the course of action would be if he resists. Arnab did resist. However, after Vaze explained to him the legal position if he failed to join the investigation, it was a smooth affair,’’ said the senior cabinet member.
Home Minister Deshmukh was also personally involved in the case as he said, “When I listened to the widow and her daughter, I got a shock of my life. I could not believe that this can happen in Maharashtra. We will take the case to its logical end.”
Perhaps had the government of Super Leader Uddhav Thackeray had shown such swiftness and focus on detail to tackle the pandemic, thousands of lives would have been saved. However, the Supreme Leader of Maharashtra chose to focus on nabbing Arnab by hook or crook as he has finally been successful at it. Operation Arnab well may prove to be a tipping point which further exposes the tyranny and desperation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi.