National Union Journalists (I) condemns arrest of Gujarat editor

National Union of Journalists (NUJ-I) has expressed deep concern over the arrest of an editor of a news portal in Gujarat on concocted sedition charge.

As per the newspaper report,  Dhaval Patel, editor and owner of news portal - 'Face of the Nation' - was detained an later on arrested  by Gujarat Police for publishing an article allegedly against Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

In the article, the editor, while analyzing different situations and developments, articulated that Mr Rupani likely to be replaced by Union Minister Mansukh Mandviya as the top bosses of the BJP were unhappy with his Covid-19 pandemic management.

In a statement NUJ ( I )  President Ras Bihari and Secretary General Prasanna Mohanty  said that the arrest is  not only highly condemnable  but also  high-handed, arbitrary and amounts to an blatant misuse of law.

NUJ (I) alleged that since the lockdown in the wake of the Covid- 19  pandemic multiple journalists  have been arrested in different states on false and fabricated charges.

In the statement NUJ (I) said when journalists are working alongside other Covid-19 warriors with fighting spirit to combat Coronavirus in our country such type of authoritarian attitude is likely to demoralise them."

NUJ (I) has demanded that the immediate and unconditional release of Mr Patel.