A week after Hindustan Times reported, followed by numerous other news outlets, that Times Now Editor-In-Chief Arnab Goswami will be provided with Y-Category security cover from the Union government following threats from terror groups, the star anchor has said that he is “thoroughly amused” by the reports.
“It's bizarre and beyond ridiculous to suggest I am walking around with 20 security guards and Y category security. I am thoroughly amused,” Goswami told The News Minute through a text message.
Sources in Times Now told The News Minute that no security cover was either asked for by Goswami or offered by the government.
HT had earlier reported that he would be “provided ‘Y’ category security cover by the government over a threat from “Pakistan-based terrorist groups””.
Arnab had come under severe criticism over these reports, with several assuming that he had either asked for or accepted the security cover. While some raised questions over how and why Goswami was being provided security by the state and under whose expense, others had slammed him for his “hypocrisy” and “opportunism”.
Arnab is known for his strong pro-India and anti-Pakistan rhetoric on his primetime TV show Newshour. In the aftermath of the Uri attacks, he has also faced criticism for being hyper-nationalistic.
In the past Times Now has received some police security when a fatwa was issued by a Muslim group against Arnab Goswami. Several news channels have often received security from state police forces for controversial stories that have earned the ire of particular communities.
There have also been cases of journalists receiving security cover from the union government, including Zee News’s Sudhir Chaudhury, Samachar Plus’s Umesh Kumar, and Ashwini Kumar Chopra of the Punjab Kesari.
Security cover, given based on threat assessments by the Intelligence Bureau, come in four categories. X-Category offers the most basic protection of four guards, while Y-Category comes with around 20 guards, Z-Category includes around 30 guards and an escort vehicle and Z+-Category comes with 40 guards and two escort vehicles.