Gujarat Samachar: A newspaper with a long history of criticising Modi is now under siege

This week’s raids by the Income Tax Department and the Enforcement Directorate on the offices of Gujarat Samachar, a leading Gujarati daily, along with the arrest of co-owner Bahubali Shah, have once again raised serious doubts about the government’s motives.

It is no secret that this administration has little tolerance for dissent. The prime minister’s occasional nods to freedom of expression do little to change that reality.

The raids and Shah’s arrest on Thursday (he was granted interim bail on medical grounds the next day) are said to be related to an old case. In an ideal situation, such matters would be judged solely on their merit.

But considering how often this government has turned investigative agencies into political instruments, one cannot help but wonder if other factors are at play – especially Gujarat Samachar’s longstanding criticism of Modi, despite its recent mellowing.

A legacy in print

Gujarat Samachar began its journey in 1932 as an extension of the Gujarati weekly Prajabandhu, which had been launched by the Thakore family. By 1940, it had been transformed into a public limited company, Lok Prakashan Limited.

With a nationalist spirit and big dreams, the owners bought land and erected a state-of-the-art building. It included one of the few elevators in Ahmedabad in 1950. The new building was officially opened...

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