Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair arrested: Opposition condemns; BJP calls him 'jihadi' who incited violence

New Delhi, Jun 27: Soon after the arrest of Alt News co-founder Mohammad Zubair, Opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government over the arrest.

Gandhi said arresting one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more. Lending support to the jailed journalist, Gandhi had tweeted, "Every person exposing BJP's hate, bigotry and lies is a threat to them. Arresting one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more. Truth ALWAYS triumphs over tyranny."

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also extended his support to the arrested journalist.

"Altnews & @zoobear have been in the forefront of exposing the bogus claims of the Vishguru, who has struck back with a vengeance characteristic of him. Delhi Police, reporting to the Union Home Minister, has long lost any pretensions of professionalism and independence," he tweeted.

Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore demanded an immediate release of the journalist.

"After 2014, India's few fact-checking services, especially @AltNews, perform an important service in our post-truth political environment rife with disinformation and lies," he said.

"They debunk falsehoods whoever perpetrates them. Now it's Co founder arrested by Delhi police under Shah. To arrest @zoobear is a blunder by DelhiPolice. He should be released immediately," he tweeted.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien also condemned the journalist's arrest."Strongly condemn the arrest of one of the world's finest journalists @zoobear who exposes the BJP's #FakeNews factory every single day. PM @narendramodi and @AmitShah for all the power you wield, you are essentially COWARDS," the Rajya Sabha MP wrote on Twitter.

TMC's Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, in a tweet, said: "Delhi Police bending over backwards to please sahibs and thumb nose at law. @zoobear arrested on trumped up case w/o notice while assisting in case where HC given him protection.

"While Ms. Fringe Sharma enjoys life of protection at tax payer expense for EXACT same offences."

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha alleged that delivering hate speeches is not a crime but reporting and exposing such speeches are criminal activities and that is why Zubair has been arrested.
"...And Irony dies hundred deaths...The great LEADER invokes #Emergency in the land of #ThirdReich and allows dissent in any form to be killed at home," Jha said in a tweet.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) also condemned Zubair's arrest.

In a tweet, Y Sathish Reddy, the social media convenor of the TRS, said: "I strongly condemn the arrest of @zoo_bear! #IStandWithZubair."

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi said Zubair's arrest is highly condemnable, alleging that the Alt News co-founder was arrested without any notice and in some unknown FIR.
"Total violation of due process," he alleged.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders alleged Alt News co-founder was a "jihadi" who incited violence, and slammed the opposition for its criticism of the government over the arrest.

Hitting back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his attack on the BJP following the arrest, BJP general secretary C T Ravi tweeted, "This Incompetent Dynast did not protest the arrest of a Marathi Actress for a simple Facebook post by the Fascist MVA Government in Maharashtra. He kept his mouth shut when women & children were raped in Rajasthan. But he is shedding tears for a Jihadi who incited violence!"

BJP secretary Y Satya Kumar also targeted the former Congress chief over the latter's criticism of the central government in this regard.

"Arrest a Jihadi, hate monger, vandal and the first voice to be raised in favour of them will be that of Congress. But these people will maintain a stoic silence when Hindus get slaughtered by jihadis in their ruled states. These wokes are not going to learn anything," he wrote on Twitter.

Fact-checking website Alt News co-founder Mohammad Zubair was arrested by the Delhi Police on Monday for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through one of his tweets, officials said.

Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha alleged that Zubair was arrested in a case for which no notice was given by the police, which is mandatory under law for the sections under which he has been held.