Ahmedabad: The arrest of an owner of a major newspaper in Gujarat has led to a political storm, with Opposition parties accusing the ruling BJP of misusing central agencies to intimidate and silence the media.
Bahubali Shah, co-owner of Gujarat’s largest daily Gujarat Samachar, was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday in connection with a money-laundering case. Shah, who is associated with more than 15 business entities, was arrested after ED officials conducted raids at multiple locations linked to him.
Shah is one of the directors of Lok Prakashan Limited, which publishes the Gujarat Samachar newspaper, and GSTV channel. His elder brother Shreyansh Shah is the newspaper’s managing editor.
As Shah’s health deteriorated following his arrest, he was hospitalised. ED is yet to release an official statement on Shah’s arrest.
Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, and Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the saffron party.
Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal slam BJP
Rahul, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, called it a conspiracy to suppress not just the voice of one newspaper, but that of ‘the entire democracy’.
“The attempt to silence Gujarat Samachar is another conspiracy to suppress the voice not just of one newspaper but of the entire democracy. When newspapers that hold power accountable are locked, then understand that democracy is in danger. The arrest of Bahubali Shah is a part of the same politics of fear, which has now become the identity of the Modi government. The country will neither be run by sticks nor by fear – India will be run by truth and the Constitution,” Rahul said.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal echoed Rahul’s views.
“The Gujarat Samachar is fearless in its critique of the Modi-led BJP regime. The ED arrest of owner Bahubali Shah is the BJP’s way of making independent media bend and toe the regime’s line,” Venugopal tweeted.
Kejriwal said it was ‘a sign of the frustration’ of BJP which ‘wants to silence every voice that speaks the truth and asks questions’.
“The raids by IT and ED on Gujarat Samachar and GSTV in the last 48 hours, and then the arrest of their owner Bahubali Bhai Shah – all this is not a coincidence. This is a sign of the frustration of BJP, which wants to silence every voice that speaks the truth and asks questions. The people of the country and Gujarat will answer this dictatorship very soon,” said the former Delhi chief minister.
Another Congress leader Pawan Khera said Gujarat Samachar was targeted because they dared to speak the truth.
“Late last night the ED arrested Bahubali Bhai Shah of Gujarat Samachar. The 93-year-old newspaper has been a bold anti-establishment voice. This is the fate of those who have the guts to openly say that the emperor is naked,” Khera said.
