IT Raids On Dainik Bhaskar, Bharat Samachar: Govt Responds Saying ‘No Interference’
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New Delhi: Amid allegations by the opposition parties over the Income Tax raids on media groups Dainik Bhaskar and Bharat Samachar, the government on Thursday said the agencies do their job independently without any interference.
Responding to media posers, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said that complete information must be obtained, adding the agencies do their job independently.
“The agencies do their job independently and we don’t interfere with them,” Thakur said.
Significantly, the Income Tax Department on Thursday conducted raids on the premises of two major media groups ‘Dainik Bhaskar’ and Uttar Pradesh’s Hindi news channel ‘Bharat Samachar’ located in different cities on charges of tax evasion.
Official sources said that in the case of Dainik Bhaskar, raids are being conducted in Bhopal, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and some other places.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala lashed out at the government over the Income Tax raids on ‘Dainik Bhaskar’ and ‘Bharat Samachar’.
“How much more will you strangle the media? How much more pressure will the media accept? How long will the shackles of power remain on the truth?” he tweeted.
Terming the Income Tax raids on ‘Dainik Bhaskar’ and ‘Bharat Samachar’ as an attempt to intimidate the media, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded that such action should be stopped immediately and media should be allowed to function freely.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh tweeted, “Modi Shah’s attack on journalism!! Modi Shah’s only weapon is IT, ED, CBI. I am sure the Agarwal brothers will not be afraid. A raid by Income Tax Investigation Branch started at various locations of Dainik Bhaskar. The income tax team is present at half a dozen places, including the Press Complex.”
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also criticized the Income Tax raids, calling it an attempt by the Central government to suppress the media.
“Income Tax raid on Dainik Bhaskar newspaper & Bharat Samachar news channel is a brazen attempt to suppress the voice of media. Modi government cannot tolerate even an iota of its criticism. Due to its fascist mentality, the BJP doesn’t want to see the truth in a democratic setup,” Gehlot tweeted.
“By indulging in such actions and gagging media, the Modi government wants to convey the message that if the media doesn’t become Godi-Media then it’s voice will be suppressed,” he said in a series of tweets.
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