'Disgrace To Democracy': Shashi Tharoor Attacks Centre Over NewsClick Raids

Taking aim at the government, Shashi Tharoor said the raids on News Click are a testament to the insecure and autocratic behavior of the Centre.

New Delhi: Congress party leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday dubbed the raids on NewsClick premises a disgrace to country's democracy. Condemning the raids conducted by Delhi Police on NewsClick, Tharoor cited that the freedom of the press is a fundamental right in any democratic country and there is a right way of investigation.

Tharoor further said, "In our country, we have a long record of Supreme Court upholding the judgments that support the freedom of the press." Dubbing the raids an act of insecurity and autocracy Congress MP said, "What happened yesterday was not only unfortunate, but it was also a disgrace to our democracy and to our traditions of freedom...There is something really wrong with this kind of approach."

Delhi Police on Tuesday arrested two persons including founder and editor-in-chief of NewsClick Prabir Purkayastha after conducting an interrogation at their office following raids at the premises under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other sections According to the Delhi Police, a total of 37 male suspects have been questioned at the premises, and nine female suspects have been questioned at their respective places of stay.

Raids by Delhi police online portal NewsClick came nearly two months after The New York Times (NYT) published an investigative report, alleging that the portal was linked to a worldwide network receiving funds from American billionaire Neville Roy Singham in exchange for promoting Chinese propaganda, a crackdown was initiated. The report in question had also referenced certain emails, allegedly sent by Singham to NewsClick, outlining his desire for a series of articles highlighting China's efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic..

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Credit: ZEE NEWS