New Delhi: Early morning raids, seizure of devices and the ongoing questioning of journalists, activists, comedians and experts associated with the independent news site, Newsclick, by Delhi Police, has led to strong statements on social media from thinkers and opposition politicians.While Delhi police has not spoken officially on the raids and questionings so far, The Wire has learned that they are in connection with FIR number 224/2023, filed on August 17, 2023, and invokes several sections (13, 16, 17, 18, and 22) of the draconian UAPA, along with 153(a) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 120 (b) (party to a criminal conspiracy other than a criminal conspiracy to commit an offence) of the Indian Penal Code.The case purportedly has to do with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s claim, citing a NYT report, that Congress leaders and NewsClick had received funds from China to create an “anti-India” atmosphere.Raided employees told The Wire that were asked about whether they had reported on events like the farmers protest and the COVID pandemic in India.The opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) has released a statement strongly condemning the raids and noting that it is “steadfastly” with the media and for constitutionally-protected freedoms of speech and expression.It further noted the BJP government’s particular role vis-a-vis the media, mentioning the crushing effects of the Information Technology Rules.“In the last nine years, the BJP government has deliberately persecuted and suppressed the media by deploying investigative agencies to suppress the British Broadcasting Corporation, Newslaundry, Dainik Bhaskar, Bharat Samachar, the Kashmir Walla, The Wire etc., and most recently the journalists of NewsClick.“The BJP government has also tried to convert the media into a mouthpiece for its partisan and ideological interests by facilitating the takeover of media organisations by crony capitalists. Both the government and its ideologically aligned organisations have resorted to reprisals against individual journalists who spoke truth to power. Furthermore, the BJP government has also spearheaded regressive policies like the Information Technology Rules 2021 that constrict the media from reporting objectively. In doing so, the BJP is not only hiding its sins of omissions and commission from the people of India. It is also compromising India’s global standing as a mature democracy.It also observed that the BJP government’s coercive actions are “invariably directed against only those media organisations and journalists that speak truth to power.”It made mention of hate speech on news platforms being given the miss. “Ironically, the BJP government is paralysed when it comes to taking action against those journalists inciting hatred and divisiveness in the nation. In the national interest, it would behove the BJP Government to focus on genuine issues of concern to the nation and the people, and stop attacking the media to distract attention from its failures,” it said.The politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued a statement condemning the raids, calling them an “authoritarian assault” on the media:“This is a brazen assault on the media and the fundamental right to freedom of expression. During the last nine years the Modi government has deployed investigation agencies to suppress, harass and intimidate various media houses like the BBC, Newslaundry, Dainik Bhaskar, Bharat Samachar, the Kashmir Walla, The Wire and now raiding all those connected with [NewsClick].Such a large-scale authoritarian assault against media organizations and journalists who speaks truth to power is totally unacceptable.”‘Distraction tactic’Congress’s Pawan Khera has posted on X that the raids are their publicised nature is a distraction from the publication of data on the Bihar caste census.The early morning raids on contributing journalists at Newsclick comes as fresh distraction from the explosive findings of caste census in Bihar and the growing demand for caste census across the country. When he faces questions from out of syllabus, he resorts to the only…— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) October 3, 2023Shabnam Hashmi, the sister of oral historian Sohail Hashmi, who was raided, noted in a post that the stifling of democratic voices of journalists, intellectuals, artists and common civilians goes unabated under this government.“In the name of legal proceedings what the common people face today is sheer intimidation, harassment and fear by the Indian state.We will not be silenced by such intimidating tactics by the government to stop citizens exercising the constitution rights,” she wrote.Today, early morning at 6 am, Delhi Police’s special cell raided Sohail Hashmi’s residence. 6 people barged into the house and the bedroom . Questioned him for two hours . The cops have seized his computer, phone, hard disc and flash drives. His residence was one among many…— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) October 3, 2023Device seizureSeveral commentators including Internet Freedom Foundation’s Apar Gupta noted that the seizure of digital devices is worrying and part of a trend.Seizure of a journalists phone and digital devices is a wider trend that requires reform and safeguards. Important for us to remember earlier this year the raid at the BBC India offices. At the time I wrote on it in the Hindu. I am quoting from it below:“Since 2018, there have…— Apar (@apar1984) October 3, 2023If the government can raid and seize devices of journalists and activists with so much alacrity basis foreign newspaper reports, then where was this action when the Washington Post revealed ample evidence of planting and fabrication of evidence by those connected with the state…— Saurav Das (@OfficialSauravD) October 3, 2023We are concerned about the raids and seizure of digital devices at the houses of prominent journalists. Such arbitrary practices violate the right to privacy and negatively impact #pressfreedom in derogation of due process of law. https://t.co/UJfBNocqty— Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) (@internetfreedom) October 3, 2023This plea by five distinguished scholars and academics seeking guidelines on search and seizure of electronic devices is still pending before the Supreme Court.Supreme Court had earlier imposed costs on the Union govt in the matter. https://t.co/OgXKJgAKxA— Prasanna S (@prasanna_s) October 3, 2023Journalists’ bodies condemn actionAmong journalists’ bodies, The Press Club of India, Mumbai Press Club, Editors’ Guild of India and Network of Women in Media, India, have registered concern at the crippling impact of the raids on media freedom.The Press Club of India is deeply concerned about the multiple raids conducted on the houses of journalists and writers associated with #Newsclick.We are monitoring the developments and will be releasing a detailed statement.— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) October 3, 2023The Mumbai Press Club expresses deep concern regarding the ongoing events in Delhi, where multiple journalists affiliated with Newsclick have been subjected to raids by the Delhi police, confiscating their phones and laptops from their residences.— Mumbai Press Club (@mumbaipressclub) October 3, 2023EGI is deeply concerned about the raids at the residences of senior journalists on the morning of October 3, and the subsequent detention of many of those journalists. Urges the state to follow due process, and not to make draconian criminal laws as tools for press intimidation pic.twitter.com/lHwOTi3XcS— Editors Guild of India (@IndEditorsGuild) October 3, 2023Journalists, activists and artists who speak truth to power are being unrelentingly harassed and persecuted by the government, while pliant and sycophantic mediapersons and media houses are being nurtured. This campaign to quell dissent has to stop. (2/2)— NWMIndia (@NWM_India) October 3, 2023The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has also condemned the early morning raids. “This highly undemocratic, unjustified, repressive action has been ostensibly been carried to intimidate independent and fearless journalists and others who have been critical of the government policies. The BJP government has now chosen to use the draconian UAPA along with other sections of the IPC to carry out these latest raids and confiscate the electronic belongings, including laptops and mobiles of the concerned individuals,” it said.The National Alliance of Journalists, the Delhi Union of Journalists and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (Delhi Unit) have released a similar statement.“We believe that this is yet another attempt by the Centre to muzzle the freedom of press. Such an action, raiding and intimidating almost all the employees in a media organisation, is unheard of. The Newsclick management has been maintaining that whatever funding they have received was through legal sources and evidences for this have been submitted in the High Court of Delhi,” they said.#Newsclick Special Cell of Delhi Police waited for Gandhi Jayanti to pass before losing not a minute to arrest truth seekers — prominent journalists who have contributed immensely to our understanding of the country…SHAME! Stop persecuting and arresting journalists.— pamela philipose (@pamelaphilipose) October 3, 2023