The Federation of Indian Associations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut (FIA-NY-NJ-CT) organized a protest over the arrest of Arnab Goswami, noted media person who heads Republic TV in India.
The FIA is best known for organizing the India Day Parade in New York City, credited to be the largest parade celebrating India’s Independence every August.
Goswami, who supports the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Delhi, was arrested in Maharasthra for allegedly abetting the suicide of an architect, according to the police. He is currently in jail.
Dev Karlekar, the chief organizer of the rally in New Jersey, introduced the FIA leaders.
Ankur Vaidya, chair of the FIA, said Goswami's arrest is an attack on the freedom of speech and expression. He claimed the Maharashtra government is behaving like the Nazis did, and that the arrest owes much to personal vendetta. If the state would not correct its act, he said, people should write to the US State Department of State demanding to deny a visa to the chief minister of Maharashtra.
Anil Bansal, FIA president, termed the arrest a misuse of power, one that could lead to anarchy. It is bad to treat Goswami or any other reporter in this fashion, he said.
The protest was covered on Republic TV and watched by tens of thousands of people on YouTube.
A group of supporters of a more secular ideology for India, including George Abraham, Vice-Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, USA, criticized the rally. They noted that people from different parties and religions join the India Day Parade and that the FIA is supposed to be a non-political organization.
“I happened to see the reports of a protest by a group of NRIs in New Jersey demanding the release of Arnab Goswami from judicial custody. It is indeed refreshing to see NRIs standing up and defending freedom and democracy in India. However, if we only speak out when our side is aggrieved, we will not be doing any justice to those universal values," said Abraham.
"We may assign little credibility to many of these groups who have closed their eyes to the sustained attack by the Modi administration in the past five years infringing the rights of the journalists, arresting peaceful protestors, and even issuing FIRs for Facebook postings. Some folks like Gouri Lankesh even paid the ultimate price with her life for speaking out. An 83-year-old Stan Swamy is languishing in jail for defending the rights of the Adivasis. Where were these folks when minorities were attacked, or Delhi rioters were given free passes? It is hypocrisy at its best when one selectively cries foul about human rights," Mr. Abraham added.
"On the other hand, this case is not about freedom of the press or suppression of liberty, but something else. Nevertheless, I also want to express my concern here about the spectacle on display as Arnab was arrested and subsequent reports of his treatment under custody. I wonder why the police had to act in that fashion, and it doesn't bode well for a civilized society. A simple summons should have brought him to the court" Mr. Abraham said.
