Editor's arrest in Gujarat

The arrest of the editor of an evening newspaper in Surat is condemnable. Manoj Shinde may be pro-Congress but the action can't be justified by any standards in this country.

The poor handling of the flood and the spread of diseases in its aftermath has angered the residents. The paper was exposing the 'failure' of the administration but the arrest of Manoj Shinde, is shocking.

The editor of Surat Samna, Shinde has been booked for anti-national activities, including "instigating people against a duly elected government" and defaming senior officials and executives, reports The Hindu. Journalists have rallied behind Shinde but the arrest has shown the government in poor light and once again exposed the contempt of Modi's government towards democracy, civil society and rule of law. When criticism of government is termed as anti-national and the state infringes on freedom of press, it is an ominous sign.