New Delhi: The Delhi Police Special Cell on Tuesday raided the residence of CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury in connection with the ongoing action concerning entities associated with NewsClick, according to a report in Asianet News.
The raid comes after the New York Times reported in 2021 that NewsClick was among a number of Indian media outlets that had received funding from China to run anti-India propaganda.
The Delhi Police has not yet issued a statement on the raid, but it is understood that they are investigating possible violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
Yechury has denied any wrongdoing, and has accused the government of trying to harass and intimidate the media. He has also said that the raid is an attempt to divert attention from the government's own failures.
The raid on Yechury's residence has sparked outrage among opposition parties, who have accused the government of trying to silence dissent.
The Congress party said that the raid was a "blatant misuse of power" and a "threat to democracy". The Trinamool Congress said that the raid was an "attack on the freedom of the press".
The CPI-M has said that the raid is an "attempt to criminalize dissent". The party has also said that the raid is a sign of the government's "insecurity".
The raid on Yechury's residence is the latest in a series of actions taken by the government against the media. In recent months, the government has raided the offices of several media outlets, including The Wire, Newslaundry, and Alt News.
The government has also been accused of putting pressure on social media companies to censor content that is critical of the government.
The raid on Yechury's residence has raised concerns about the state of democracy in India. Many fear that the government is trying to silence its critics and create a climate of fear.
