NEW DELHI: In a scathing attack on the government, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday raised the issue of the purported WhatsApp chats of Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami in Rajya Sabha, alleging that while protesting farmers were being labelled “anti-national”, the BJP-led NDA should be ashamed of protecting Goswami, who allegedly violated the Official Secrets Act by leaking details about the Balakot strike.
Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address in Rajya Sabha, Raut hit out at the Centre over its handling of the farmers’ protest and objected to sedition charges being slapped against many prominent politicians and journalists seen to be critical of the government. “The atmosphere in the country today is such that anyone speaking or writing the truth is dubbed as traitor and anti-national,” he alleged.
“Cases of sedition are slapped on anyone asking questions of the government,” Raut said, citing examples of MPs like Sanjay Singh and Shashi Tharoor and also giving examples of journalists like Rajdeep Sardesai. “…And who are the ‘desh premis’ (nationalists)? They include people like Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami and actress Kangana Ranaut…” Raut said. “You should be ashamed of protecting him,” Raut said addressing the treasury benches.
Raut said everyone was ashamed by the incidents of violence that took place on the Republic Day and asked why those behind the incidents of disrespecting the national flag have not been nabbed so far. “Why is Deep Sidhu, responsible for disrespecting the national flag, not been caught yet. At whose behest he is acting? Over 200 farmers are lodged in jail after being booked for sedition but not Sidhu. Over 100 youth are missing and whether they have been killed in encounters,” he asked.
“Defaming the farmers’ agitation is not a good thing for the country, for farmers and for all,” he said. Raut said while they respect PM Narendra Modi, it is important to understand that even though the BJP-led government has a majority, there is no place for arrogance in governance.