Government deadly democratic pressure on independent media: action on Samacha, Gujarat

Congress on Friday proposed a law enforcement action against the founder of Gujarat Samachar, saying anyone who opposes the government or who does not compromise with the BJP will have to go to jail. Bahubali Shah, one of the owners of Gujarat Samachar, a famous newspaper in Gujarat, was detained by Ed after raiding his house.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge claimed in an article on X that the government is putting pressure on independent media, which is deadly to democracy.

“Criticism is the soul of democracy,” Halge said in a recent interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said that Jean Gujarat Samachar’s founder was arrested by Ed, “Modi Ji proved that arresting critics was the first sign of fear of dictators”.
Kharge accused: “Whoever speaks against the government against this government, who does not compromise with the BJP must go to jail. The government puts pressure on independent media and uses its strengths to be fatal to democracy.”

“Late last night, ED arrested Bahubali Bhai Shah of Samachar, Gujarat. The 93-year-old newspaper has been a bold anti-agency voice. It is the fate of those who have the courage to openly do so.”

Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh said in an article on X: “We admire the “Gujarat Samachaar” that always shows. He also said: “I’m sure it’s just ‘hunting witches’ harassing the owners and they will eventually be clean.” We all stood by them. “Gujarat Congress criticized the government’s actions, and the director Shaktisinh Gohil accused: “In the Modi government, severe punishment was received to write and tell the truth – the latest case comes from Gujarat. ”

He said the Ed raid was conducted on Gujarat Samachar and GSTV.

“Bahubalibhai Shah, 73, of Gujarat Samachar, has been arrested. His only crime is that he has been asking questions to the government and determining its responsibility. But… the BJP government is not used to answering and accountability, so by sending Ed, they trampled on the right to the Chapter 4 rights of democracy,” he said. ”

Before that, the X-handle of “Gujarat Samachar” was also blocked in India, Gohil said.

The Gujarat Congress leader accused in his post: “This dictatorship and arbitrary attitude of the Modi government is extremely dangerous to this country and we all must unite to raise our voices.”

Bahubali Shah is one of the directors of Lok Prakashan Limited, which owns Gujarat Samachar. His older brother Shreyansh Shah is the executive editor of Daily.