NewsClick Raids: Agencies Free To Probe, Says I&B Minister. Oppn Retorts With 'PM Modi Scared'
Union Minister Anurag Singh Thakur has responded to a question about raids at the locations linked to news portal 'NewsClick' in an alleged Chinese funding case.
Another face-off has begun between the BJP and the opposition parties after Delhi police started conducting raids at different premises of NewsClick in an alleged case of Chinese funding. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Singh Thakur on Tuesday said that he need not justify raids being conducted by Delhi police as agencies are free to carry out probes if anyone has committed anything wrong. He was responding to a question by a reporter about the searches Delhi police is conducting at around 30 locations linked to the news portal NewsClick in Delhi-NCR.
"I don't need to justify... If anyone has committed anything wrong, search agencies are free to carry out investigations against them under set guidelines... the minister added.
#WATCH | Bhubaneswar, Odisha: On Delhi Police conducting raids at different premises linked to NewsClick, Union Minister Anurag Thakur says, "I don't need to justify... If anyone has committed anything wrong, search agencies are free to carry out investigations against them under… pic.twitter.com/ncE7vk3zsm
— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2023
NewsClick is alleged to have received dubious funds to spread Chinese propaganda as alleged by a report in the New York Times, the PTI reported. Over 30 locations linked to NewsClick were raided as per sources, as reported by news agency ANI.
Visuals of Delhi Police Special Cell officials arriving at 'NewsClick' office in the national capital. pic.twitter.com/A90T45SERM
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 3, 2023
ANI reported citing sources that the ongoing raids are based on a case registered on 17th August under UAPA and other sections of IPC. Sources told the agency that the case has been registered under sections of UAPA, 153A of IPC (promoting enmity between two groups), 120B of IPC (Criminal conspiracy).
Reacting to the development, BJP leader Dushyant Kumar Gautam said, "Strict actions will be taken on NewsClick or any other agency that will work on the funds from foreign countries to break the country. China does not want to see our country grow and it is trying to use anti-national agencies against the country..."
Congress, meanwhile, said that the raids suggest PM Narendra Modi is "scared" and "nervous".
"PM Modi is scared, nervous. Especially from those people who question him on his failures and failures. Be it opposition leaders or journalists, those who speak the truth will be harassed. Today again the raid on journalists is proof of this," the party said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
PM मोदी डरे हुए हैं, घबराए हुए हैं।
— Congress (@INCIndia) October 3, 2023
खासतौर से उन लोगों से जो उनकी विफलताओं पर, उनकी नाकामियों पर उनसे सवाल पूछते हैं।
वो विपक्ष के नेता हों या फिर पत्रकार, सच बोलने वालों को प्रताड़ित किया जाएगा।
आज फिर से पत्रकारों पर छापेमारी इसी बात का प्रमाण है।
Party MP Pramod Tiwari condemned the action and said, "I feel that dictatorship has come... This is a message from the BJP to all the journalists. We are in support of free journalism. We strongly condemn these raids".
RJD MP Manoj Jha called the raid the 'most unfortunate thing', asked why Delhi police is being called out as they are under Amit Shah and "nothing takes place without his consent".
"This is the most unfortunate thing... Why are you calling them Delhi Police... They are under HM Amitv Shah and nothing takes place without his consent... Those who deny to join their (BJP) 'Bhajan Mandali', they do like this against them... What are they trying to show from all these... This incident will be written in the history and this step of the government will cost them..." Jha said.
#WATCH | Delhi: On Delhi Police conducting raids at different premises linked to NewsClick, RJD MP Manoj Jha says, "This is the most unfortunate thing... Why are you calling them Delhi Police... They are under HM Amit Shah and nothing takes place without his consent... Those who… pic.twitter.com/yFybG6K212
— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2023
Meanwhile, some journalists associated with the news portal 'NewsClick' have been brought at the Delhi Police Special Cell office at Lodhi Road.
#WATCH | NewsClick writer Urmilesh seen with the officials of Delhi Police Special Cell.
— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2023
Delhi Police is conducting raids at different premises linked to NewsClick under UAPA and other sections. pic.twitter.com/lfmvq3F1FW
PTI reported that officials in the know said police have recovered the dump data from laptops and mobile phones of the journalists of the news portal. The portal is said to have received funds from US millionaire Neville Roy Singham for pro-China propaganda in India, the agency mentioned.
#WATCH | Advocate for NewsClick writer Urmilesh, Gaurav Yadav reaches Delhi Police Special Cell office.
— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2023
He says "Urmilesh's wife informed me that he has been arrested by Delhi Police. I have no other details as of now." pic.twitter.com/go3Kg0UblP
Advocate for NewsClick writer Urmilesh, Gaurav Yadav has meanwhile reached the Delhi Police Special Cell office. "Urmilesh's wife informed me that he has been arrested by Delhi Police. I have no other details as of now," he said.
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