(S.Ravi Seshu)
Editor-in-Chief of Times Now channel, Arnab Goswami, who goes beyond the call of journalism in dealing with every topic, especially J&K and Pakistan, is reportedly provided ‘Y’ category security by the Narendra Modi government.
According to reports, Goswami received threat from Pak-based terrorist groups allegedly for his anti-Pakistan stand. He will be guarded by around 20 armed guards, including two personal security officers. The Hindustan Times claimed that it tried to contact Arnab on this issue but he didn’t respond. HT is the market rival of the Times of India group, the owners of Times Now.
An official from Union Home Ministry told HT that the Y-category security is provided to Arnab on the basis of a threat-perception analysis by the Intelligence Bureau.
Zee News’s Sudhir Chaudhary (X-category), Samachar Plus’s Umesh Kumar (Y-category) and Ashwini Kumar Chopra (Z- Plus category) also being protected under special security. The government provides security under four categories — ‘Z Plus’ (around 40 guards with two escort vehicles), ‘Z’ (around 30 guards with one escort vehicle), ‘Y’ (around 20 guards) and ‘X’ (four guards), according to officials.
Arnab, going by his nature, should have made an announcement about his security by now, but there is sign of it on his social media forum by the time of filing of this story. However, an antagonist of Arnab, known as Not that Arnab (@justicearnab) tweeted the following:
“RTI activists who are doing good for the country have given no security but I have been given Y category category for blabbering. Yeah.”
It may be recalled that Arnab ran a campaign against Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, launched a tirade against Pakistan after the attack on soliders in Uri and started scolding Bollywood stars for their mum over the attacks. He also went soft in an interview with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently.
