Republic editor Arnab Goswami, wife attacked by what he claims 'Youth Congress workers' in Mumbai; two arrested

Goswami was allegedly chased by two bike-borne persons who had tried to break the glass window of the journalist's car.

Both the persons have reportedly been arrested.

However, Goswami in his news channel Republic TV claimed the police took hours to file a First Information Report (FIR) over the incident.

The incident occured at Ganpatrao Kadam Marg when Goswami was returning from a studio in Lower Parel of Mumbai, claimed Goswami in a video message.

The attackers had allegedly thrown ink on the journalist's car.

Following the incident, Goswami said his security guards, who were behind in a separate car, told him that the attackers were Youth Congress workers.

Reacting to the incident, another senior journalist Smita Prakash said, "Imagine if someone of a stature like Arnab Goswami faces this, what will happen with other reporters!"

The attack took place days after Goswami during his television debate slammed Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi in the backdrop of the Palghar lynching incident where two Sadhus (saints) were killed.

"The Italian origin Sonia Gandhi is silent (on the killing of Sadhus) is because I think she is happy from within. She is happy because the saints have been killed in the state where her government is in power. I am telling you she (Sonia Gandhi) will be sending a report to Italy stating saints are led to death where her party has formed a government. And she will be applauded (by Italy). These people must be ashamed. Will Hindus be silent on this?.." the journalist had said.

Hitting out at his arch-rival Congress over the attack on Goswami, ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Jagat Prakash Nadda tweeted, "Shocking to see Arnab Goswami attacked after Congress CMs publicly threatened him. Sad to see such public hounding of a journalist for his freedom of speech. Congress shows it is the party that brought Emergency and continues its rich tradition of trampling free speech."

In a strong reaction to the remarks against his party chief, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had tweeted, "Attack on mrs Sonia Gandhi by Arnab Goswami is highly condemnable. He has gone insane and crossed all limits, he should be ashamed of himself . I must ask the Editors guild [sic]- isn’t this all time low for journalism ? Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar must sack him immediately."

Earlier on Apr 21, targeting journalist Shekhar Gupta for allegedly not speaking up against the spread of fake news during COVID-19, Goswami, the founding member of Republic TV, resigned from the Editors’ Guild of India during a live TV show.

In January this year, stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra had "shamed" Goswami on a flight of Indigo for his brand of journalism and then posted a video of the episode on social media. The comedian was later barred from flying for a period of six months by several airlines.

However, Kamra did not lose an opportunity to ridicule Goswami, tweeting, "I condemn the attack that ‘congress goons’ apparently did on Arnab last night... There’s a way to protest, next time just pretend to be a Fan, smile at him & give a polite knock to his window, as he rolls down expecting a compliment just ask him if he’s a Journalist or a Coward."