Kanojia’s partner Jagisha Arora said that Kanojia was arrested actually because he used to speak against the government. This is a part of government policies as it has been witch-hunting activists
Waquar Hasan | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – More than a month after he was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police over a social media post, people are demanding the release of journalist Prashant Kanojia.
On Monday, his partner Jagisha Arora launched a social media campaign demanding the release of the outspoken Dalit journalist.
Sharing a video, Jagisha said, “It has been over a month since Kanojia was arrested. He was arrested over a tweet. He had deleted that tweet within half an hour. Despite that, he was arrested from his Delhi home. The real reason for his arrested is speaking up against the government and the authorities, and speaking about the wrongdoing happening in the country”.
She also said that there are also financial hurdles in fighting his legal case and urged people to contribute their mite.
Through this video I request everyone to rise in rage against Prashant’s arrest by the UP Police. Please participate in the twitter trend at 4 PM today. Jai Bhim. @PJkanojia #ReleasePrashantKanojia pic.twitter.com/OQPp6KJ1oN
— Jagisha Arora (@jagishaarora) September 28, 2020
Kanojia was arrested on 18 August by the UP police from his Delhi residence. Then, he was taken to Uttar Pradesh. He was accused of sharing a morphed post of Hindu army leader Sushil Tiwari. The post of Tiwari was about replacing Islamic study with Vedic study in the UPSC syllabus. But the same post of Tiwari shared by Kanojia was attributed to the ban on the entry of Dalit, OBC in the Ram temple.
Talking to Clarion India about the allegations against him, Jagisha said that he had deleted that tweet within an hour after Kanojia came to know about the wrong attribution.
“You can’s put somebody behind bars on the basis of screenshots. If this is taken seriously, even the Prime Minister will be put behind bars. Many times, many such things get shared from the Prime Minister’s twitter handle. Kanojia’s arrest is completely unjustified,” she said.
She said that Kanojia was arrested actually because he used to speak against the government. This is a part of government policies as it has been witch-hunting activists.
On Jagisha’s call for a social media campaign for Kanojia’s release, many people have come out in support of Kanojia. Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and Bollywood actress Swara Bhashkar also demanded his release.
“Prashant Kanojia has been arrested twice in two years by the same UP Police. It simply indicates that the Brahmanical nexus of state police is hell-bent to take ‘revenge’ from Bahujans who question them. #ReleasePrashantKanojia,” tweeted Mevani.
Prashant Kanojia has been arrested twice in two years by the same UP Police. It simply indicates that the brahmanical nexus of state- police is hellbent to take ‘revenge’ from bahujans who question them.#ReleasePrashantKanojia
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) September 28, 2020
Bhaskar said that Kanojia was held for a tweet which did not harm any but Kapil Mishra is still free.
#PrashantKanojia is in jail for a tweet.. that did no harm.. meanwhile @KapilMishra_IND ………… 🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️🙋🏽♀️ #NewIndia #ReleasePrashantKanojia https://t.co/6OGloLWmbb
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) September 28, 2020
There were others who also raised their voice for Kanojia on Twitter.
Journalist Prashant Kanojia is in jail for more than one month because of a tweet!
Criminals are roaming freely, everyday rape and murder taking place in UP, but govt is targeting journalists for mere tweets! #ReleasePrashantKanojia
— Md Asif Khan (@imMAK02) September 28, 2020
The only crime Prashant Kanojia committed is that he is a dalit and an ambedkarite who is vocal against the oppressive and castiest BJP Regime.
— Aazad Aniket Dhanuk (@AniketDhanuk_) September 28, 2020
Before the social media campaign, dozens of individuals had issued a joint statement condemning the arrest of the Bahujan journalist and demanding his early release.
“It is clear that the arrest and detention of Kanojia is politically motivated and driven by vendetta. It fits a larger pattern of UP administration attempting to silence dissenting voices. In recent times, it has repeatedly gone after activists and journalists alike using questionable legal pretexts. This is a clear attack on the right to free speech, and the UP government needs to be held accountable for attempting to create this ‘chilling effect’ by intimidating and silencing its critics,” read the statement.
This is the second time when the UP police arrested Kanojia. Earlier, he was arrested for sharing a video about the marriage proposal of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He was released on the order of the Supreme Court.
