New Delhi, May 20 (IANS): The Congress has hit back at BJP President J.P. Nadda who came out in open support of TV channel news anchor Arnab Goswami. Reacting to Nadda's allegation that "perpetrators of emergency" should introspect, the Congress treasurer Ahmed Patel said, "Undeclared emergency" is a fraud on the Constitution which has been put on the country.

Nadda on Tuesday had said, "The Court's observations should make the perpetrators of emergency, the assaulters of free speech and tramplers of media freedom -- the Congress Party -- introspect and change their style of functioning."

Responding to this, Ahmed Patel hit back, saying, "They have forgotten how Hardik Patel was hounded. Dhaval Patel - a reporter - was arrested by them."

"In UP & Kashmir, how their govt arrested journalists? Bit rich for them to sermonise and invoke freedom of the press selectively."

"Undeclared emergency is a fraud on the Constitution," added Patel.

Nada, while coming out in open support of the Republic TV editor, said, "Regarding the bogus FIRs filed to trouble Arnab Goswami, SC recognised yet again the journalist's right to free speech and quashed multiple FIRs. It stated 'India's freedom will rest safe as long as journalist can speak to power without being chilled by a threat of reprisal."