Freedom of speech/press is guaranteed by India's constitution & applies to all, regardless of their politics, ideology or manners. Constitution allows 'reasonable' restrictions but not violence. So no room for ifs & buts—the attack on Arnab Goswami last night must be condemned.

The goons should be prosecuted to fullest extent of law, especially given Goswami's charge that they are affiliated to Congress—part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra. Across India, sadly, political affiliations usually allow thugs to get away. Onus is on you, @OfficeofUT.

Coincidentally—or not so coincidentally—Congress leaders on Twitter attacked Goswami for what they called his "offensive" TV comments against Sonia Gandhi. Organised trolling vitiates the public sphere but has sadly become the norm with parties, both ruling and opposition.

We know that organised trolling instigates physical threats & attacks. Don't forget Gauri Lankesh & Shujaat Bukhari were shot dead after being targeted online. Umar Khalid was fired on. Women journalists critical of the regime are subjected to atrocious threats. This must stop.

It is deplorable that cases against Goswami have been filed by Congress leaders in CG/MH/RJ. The FIRs were triggered not by his hate speech against minorities—which perhaps happens daily—but his personal attack on Sonia Gandhi and are an expression of political intolerance

I urge journalists: Don't be confused by the kind of journalism Arnab represents. Misuse of law hurts us all. IPC sections used against him are routinely misused by BJP & its govts against journalists, academics, activists in JK/UP/DL, Manipur etc. Now that misuse will increase.

Police in different states file 153, 505, IT Act, NSA & now UAPA cases for speech ruling parties dislike politically, though not even remotely linked to any violence. And hate speech that amounts to abetment of actual violence—eg Kapil Mishra/Anurag Thakur—isn't even probed!

The best antidote to Poison TV is not an FIR but doubling down on what Arnab hates most—(1) independent journalism that holds the state to account (2) upholding constitutional protections for free press (3) fearlessness in the face of political, financial & police pressure.

If someone has a credible case against any person that their speech indeed abetted actual violence, political leaning should not shield them from legal action for abetment. However, in absence of this evidence, a 'hate speech' FIR—given how our system works—is simply harassment.

This is what is happening to @Masratzahra, @GowharGeelani, @peerashiq and eventually many other journalists in J&K—the filing of UAPA cases as a form of intimidation. The added danger is that bail is next to impossible in UAPA, so you can rot in jail for years on bogus charges.

Just as organised trolling can lead to physical attacks, Goswami and other anchors must realise that the anti-Muslim filth they and their channels have been putting out has created an atmosphere of great insecurity and fear for Muslims across the country.

These anchors function as extensions of BJP/RSS and their agenda is to make Hindus hateful and angry, and communalise society on every issue. Their coverage of COVID, the Bandra crowd & Palghar incident are the most recent examples and Arnab is the most irresponsible of the lot.

Sadly, the law as it operates offers no solution to this pathology, esp in current climate. This is the reality. The more Goswami is attacked, the more he cloaks himself in freedoms he denies others. He thrives on oxygen of publicity. INC's overkill has given him what he wants.