THIS IS NOT NEW FOR GUJARAT SAMACHAR, WHETHER CONGRESS OR BJP , THEY HAVE TO FACE THE HEAT OF POWER.
In the annals of Indian journalism, few publications have stood as steadfastly against power as Gujarat Samachar, a Gujarati-language newspaper founded in 1932. For over nine decades, it has been a cornerstone of independent journalism, fearlessly critiquing those in authority, regardless of political affiliation. Yet, this legacy of resilience is once again under threat. The recent arrest of Bahubali Shah, co-owner of Gujarat Samachar, in a 25-year-old case, echoes a chilling episode from 1985 when the newspaper’s office was engulfed in a mysterious fire. Then, under the Congress government led by Madhavsingh Solanki, the attack was seen as retribution for the paper’s exposés on corruption and governance lapses. Today, under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, the assault on Gujarat Samachar takes a different form but carries the same intent: to silence a voice that dares to question the establishment.
A History of Defiance
Established by Shantilal Shah, Gujarat Samachar has grown from a modest publication into one of Gujarat’s most influential dailies, with a readership of over 4.6 million as per a 2014 Indian Readership Survey. Published by Lok Prakashan Ltd., the newspaper has weathered political storms, economic challenges, and societal upheavals since its inception. Its editorial stance—uncompromising and anti-establishment—has earned it both admiration and enmity. In the 1950s, a young Madhavsinh Solanki, who later became a Congress stalwart and Chief Minister of Gujarat, worked as a journalist for the paper. Ironically, decades later, the same Congress party would be implicated in an attack on the very publication that once nurtured him.
In 1985, during the landline phone era, Gujarat Samachar was a vocal critic of the Congress government, both at the state and central levels, under Solanki’s leadership. The newspaper relentlessly exposed corruption, mismanagement, and policy failures, particularly during the anti-reservation agitations that roiled Gujarat. In the midst of this tense climate, the newspaper’s office in Ahmedabad’s Khanpur area was consumed by a mysterious fire. Though no conclusive evidence pinned the blaze on Congress supporters, the timing and context fueled suspicions of political vendetta. The attack, widely condemned, only strengthened Gujarat Samachar’s resolve. As Gujarat Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president Isudan Gadhvi noted in a recent post on X, “During the emergency, the office of Gujarat Samachar was burnt down, but even then the newspaper didn’t stop reporting the truth.”
The Present Assault: Bahubali Shah’s Arrest
Fast forward to May 2025, and Gujarat Samachar finds itself under siege once more, this time under the BJP-led government. On May 15, 2025, Bahubali Shah, a 73-year-old director of Lok Prakashan Ltd. and co-owner of the newspaper, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged money laundering case dating back to 2006. The arrest followed 36-hour raids by the Income Tax department and the ED on the newspaper’s offices, the GSTV news channel, and residences linked to the Shah family. Shah, who has a history of heart ailments and a prior stroke, was hospitalized after his health deteriorated, prompting a court to grant him interim bail on medical grounds.
The ED alleges financial irregularities, including share manipulation by Lok Prakashan Ltd., based on probes initiated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in 2006 and 2016. However, the agency has yet to provide a detailed public statement outlining specific charges, fueling speculation of political motives. The timing of the arrest—shortly after Gujarat Samachar published critical editorials on the government’s handling of the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025—has raised eyebrows. The attack, which killed 26 civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, exposed security lapses that the newspaper and its television channel, GSTV, highlighted in their coverage.
Political Repression or Legal Accountability?
The arrest has sparked a firestorm of criticism from opposition leaders, journalists, and media watchdogs, who view it as a calculated move to muzzle dissent. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called it “the first sign of a scared dictator,” accusing the BJP of targeting those who refuse to “compromise” with the ruling party. Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, framed the action as “another conspiracy to suppress the voice not just of one newspaper but of the entire democracy.” Gujarat Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil went further, alleging that the arrest was retribution for Gujarat Samachar’s coverage of the India-Pakistan tensions following the Pahalgam attack. “Punishment to stand up for Truth has been the motto of the BJP government,” he posted on X.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal echoed these sentiments, labeling the arrest a “sign of frustration” from a government seeking to “silence every voice that speaks the truth.” A joint statement by press bodies, including the Press Club of India, condemned Shah’s detention as a “troubling assault on press freedom,” pointing to a broader pattern of harassment against independent media. The suspension of Gujarat Samachar’s X handle on May 9, 2025, without explanation, further deepened suspicions of targeted censorship.
On the other side, some voices argue that the arrest is a legitimate exercise of law enforcement. Posts on X by accounts like @MediaExpose_ and @PoliticalKida claim that Gujarat Samachar has a history of “anti-national” reporting and financial impropriety, justifying the ED’s actions. However, these claims remain unsubstantiated, and the lack of transparency from the ED has only amplified accusations of political vendetta.
The Broader Context: Media Freedom in Decline
The assault on Gujarat Samachar is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend of media suppression in India. Over the past decade, journalists and media outlets critical of the government have faced raids, arrests, and legal harassment. The World Press Freedom Index has consistently flagged India’s declining rankings, citing “increasing pressures on independent journalism.” Recent examples include the arrest of journalist Mahesh Langa by Gujarat Police for possessing official documents and legal threats against The Chenab Times in Jammu and Kashmir.
The use of central agencies like the ED and Income Tax department as tools of intimidation has become a recurring theme. Legal analyst Sidharth Nayak noted, “When the ED and I-T raids disproportionately target media outlets critical of the government—and not others with similar profiles—it points to selective enforcement and political vendetta.” The timing of these actions, often coinciding with critical reporting, undermines the government’s claims of impartiality.
The Pahalgam Connection
The Pahalgam terror attack, one of the deadliest in Kashmir in recent years, has become a flashpoint in this controversy. Gujarat Samachar’s coverage, which questioned security lapses and intelligence failures, reportedly irked the government. Instead of addressing these lapses—acknowledged by the Union government itself at an all-party meeting—the authorities turned their sights on the messenger. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, responding to Pakistan’s use of Indian media clips to deflect blame, called public criticism “the hallmark of an open and functioning democracy.” Yet, the actions against Gujarat Samachar suggest a stark contradiction between rhetoric and reality.
A Threat to Democracy
The silencing of Gujarat Samachar is not just an attack on a newspaper; it is an assault on the democratic principles of free expression and accountability. As Rahul Gandhi warned, “When newspapers that hold power accountable are locked, then understand that democracy is in danger.” The press, often called the fourth pillar of democracy, plays a critical role in ensuring transparency and fostering public discourse. By targeting independent voices, the government risks eroding the very foundations of India’s democratic framework.
The implications extend beyond journalists to every citizen. A free press amplifies the voices of the marginalized, holds the powerful to account, and safeguards the right to know. When media outlets are coerced into silence, the public’s access to unfiltered information diminishes, paving the way for unchecked power and propaganda. As Congress leader Pawan Khera aptly put it, Gujarat Samachar’s fate is that of “those who have the guts to openly say that the emperor is naked.”
A Call to Action
The story of Gujarat Samachar—from the ashes of 1985 to the handcuffs of 2025—is a testament to its enduring courage. Yet, it is also a clarion call for citizens to remain vigilant. The erosion of media freedom is a slow poison, weakening democracy from within. Public support for independent journalism, whether through subscriptions, advocacy, or simply amplifying truthful reporting, is crucial. Editorials in regional dailies and statements from civil society groups are already rallying behind Gujarat Samachar, urging transparency in the investigation and justice for Bahubali Shah.
As Shreyansh Shah, the newspaper’s managing editor, declared, “We will not be silenced. We have stood up against power before, and we will continue to do so.” This defiance must inspire a collective resolve to protect the press and, by extension, the soul of India’s democracy. The battle for truth is not Gujarat Samachar’s alone—it belongs to every Indian who values freedom, accountability, and the right to question. In the face of fear, the answer is courage; in the face of repression, the response is resistance.
