Mumbai, Jan 21 (IANS): Terming the recent revelations of WhatsApp chats of two media personalities Arnab Goswami and Partho Dasgupta as "extremely serious and violative of the Official Secret Act, 1923" the Maharashtra Congress on Thursday announced state-wide protests on Friday (Jan. 22) demanding their arrest and prosecution.

State party President and Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat said that the chats between the Republic TV Editor and the ex-BARC head had some serious revelations related to national security and pertaining to the retaliatory surgical strike by India in Balakot, Pakistan.

"How did Goswami get the information on the air-strikes of Feb. 23, 2019, three days before the action was taken? Who is the 'Big Name' in the government that he refers to? With whom did Goswami share such sensitive information that is violative of the OSA, 1923," Thorat demanded.

The Congress leader pointed out that the WhatsApp chats indicate how Goswami enjoys very close ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other ministers in the Bharatiya Janata Party government, many ministers or high-ranking officials have helped him out by flouting rules, and the Pulwama attack pointed to vested interests of some big functionary.

"The chats mention that 'he will win elections' on the issue - so did the BJP use the martyrs' sacrifice only to win polls? What is the connivance between Goswami and the BJP which is dangerous not only for the press freedom, but also the country's security and democracy," Thorat pointed out.

Claiming that Goswami is not 'the only culprit', the Congress chief alleged that many Central ministers have violated their oath to help the Republic TV chief earn commercial gains, and action must be taken against all those who were party to the entire episode.

Referring to the ongoing TRP manipulations scam and Republic TV illegally using Doordarshan's satellite frequencies causing huge losses to Prasar Bharati, Thorat said even after DD lodged a complaint, the then Information & Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore failed to take cognizance of the matter and set it aside.

"This shows that Goswami enjoys great support from within the BJP government is it the reason he has been spared of action despite misappropriation of public funds," Thorat asked.

Last week, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that the state government will seek legal opinion to examine how it could proceed against the Republic TV head in the matter which concerned national security.