BJP Criticizes Congress Over Tarun Tejpal's Conviction in Public Speech
BJP's Strong Remarks on Congress's Silence
In a pointed public address on Monday, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi criticized the Congress party for its historical ties with Tarun Tejpal, the former editor-in-chief of 'Tehelka'. Recently, the Bombay High Court's Goa bench found Tejpal guilty in a 2013 rape case, sentencing him to ten years of rigorous imprisonment. Trivedi questioned Congress's silence following the conviction and recalled past instances where Tejpal received support from party leaders. He referenced a 2004 incident where then UPA leader Sonia Gandhi instructed then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram to ensure that 'Tehelka' and its financiers were not harassed.
Accusing Congress of bias, Trivedi highlighted their alleged negligence in presenting the Justice Phookan Commission report related to the controversial 'Tehelka' sting operation. He emphasized the BJP government's efforts to re-investigate the matter and demanded clarity on Congress's purported collusion. He stated that just recently, Tarun Tejpal was convicted by the Bombay High Court for a 2013 rape allegation and sentenced to ten years in prison.
Trivedi pointed out the significance of this issue, noting that despite the passage of time, Congress has not uttered a single word. Neither has any opposition party nor any organization claiming to be a protector of women's rights spoken out. This reflects a one-sided and biased perspective on issues like freedom of expression and women's harassment.
He remarked that this is the same business house that conducted a bizarre sting operation. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government formed a commission of inquiry under Justice Phookan, the group behind the sting refused to provide the complete tapes for verification. This raises further suspicion. By the time the inquiry report was released, the government had changed, and the Congress government never presented that report in the assembly. When the BJP raised the issue, a 41-page summary report was submitted in the assembly. Now that the culprits have been convicted, he reminded everyone of the connection between them and Congress.
Trivedi also mentioned that during the UPA era, Sonia Gandhi wrote to then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram between September 25-27, 2004, ensuring that there would be no harassment towards 'Tehelka' and its financiers, and that they should be treated positively. He questioned Congress about whether their government was providing unfair treatment at that time. In 2010, former Law Minister Veerappa Moily awarded Tejpal for excellence in journalism. Now, with Tejpal's current situation, Trivedi noted the silence from Congress. He recalled that in 2021, when Tejpal was acquitted by a lower court, he thanked Congress for their assistance in the rape case. The BJP now seeks clarity from Congress regarding their relationship with Tejpal.