Congress Condemns Arrest of ‘Gujarat Samachar’ Editor, Calls it a Political Vendetta
Congress Condemns Arrest of ‘Gujarat Samachar’ Editor, Calls it a Political Vendetta
M.U.H
21/05/202523
NEW DELHI: In a scathing attack on the BJP-led Gujarat government, the Indian National Congress today condemned the arrest of Gujarat Samachar Managing Editor Bahubali Shah by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), terming it “political vendetta” and an attempt to muzzle press freedom.
Addressing a press conference at AICC headquarters in New Delhi, Gujarat MLA and Congress leader Jignesh Mevani, accompanied by Congress Seva Dal President Lalji Desai, said the arrest was a clear case of targeting a media house that has consistently held the government accountable.
“While the nation is demanding answers on the recent Pahalgam attack, the Modi government is arresting journalists instead of terrorists. The priority seems to be silencing dissent rather than ensuring national security,” said Mevani.
He alleged that the 90-year-old legacy newspaper Gujarat Samachar was being targeted for its critical coverage, particularly over sensitive issues such as the Pulwama and Pahalgam terror attacks. He recalled the newspaper’s headline during Pulwama: “56-inch cowardice”, which he said deeply irked the BJP leadership.
Bahubali Shah, 73, was arrested in connection with a two-decade-old money laundering case. Mevani questioned the timing and motive, especially since multiple interrogations over the years had not led to any arrest. He claimed that the ED issued notices even during Shah’s personal bereavement, following the recent death of a family member.
“This is not about financial irregularities. This is about crushing voices that dare to question power,” Mevani said, adding, “Even when Gujarat Samachar criticized Congress policies, we never sent the ED or CBI after them.”
Lalji Desai termed the arrest “an attack on journalism, not justice.”
“They promised to end terrorism, but they are ending journalism,” he remarked. “When media becomes the mirror of society, authoritarian regimes try to break that mirror. What we see today in Gujarat is not a governance model — it is the ‘Modani Model’, where Modi, Adani, and Ambani collude to crush opposition.”
Desai also linked the crackdown to broader trends across India, referring to earlier actions against NewsClick, BBC, NDTV, and Dainik Bhaskar. He warned that democracy cannot survive without a free press and likened the situation to the stifling of activists like Gauri Lankesh and journalists facing sedition charges for critical reporting.
He cited Gujarat’s persistent Section 144 impositions and rising authoritarianism, calling it a state where “protest is criminalized, and questioning power invites punishment.”
Both leaders demanded that the Gujarat government clarify the reasons behind Bahubali Shah’s arrest and cease the harassment of media personnel. They also reiterated their call for a special session of Parliament to address national security lapses, especially around the Pulwama and Pahalgam attacks.
“India deserves answers, not intimidation. We stand with the press and the people’s right to know,” concluded Mevani.
