Now Reading: BJP questions Congress silence on Tejpal conviction, targets Rahul Gandhi
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BJP questions Congress silence on Tejpal conviction, targets Rahul Gandhi
BJP questions Congress silence on Tejpal conviction, targets Rahul Gandhi
The BJP on Monday accused the Congress of maintaining a deliberate silence on the Bombay High Court’s conviction of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal for the 2013 rape of a junior colleague.…
The Story in Brief
The BJP on Monday accused the Congress of maintaining a deliberate silence on the Bombay High Court’s conviction of former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal for the 2013 rape of a junior colleague. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged a long-standing nexus between the Congress and Tejpal, citing a 2004 letter from Sonia Gandhi to the finance minister seeking no harassment of Tehelka, and a 2010 journalism award given by a UPA minister. Tejpal, sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment, plans to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Trivedi also attacked Rahul Gandhi over the ongoing student protests in Jharkhand, accusing him of double standards by speaking on other student agitations but staying silent on the Ranchi stir. The protests, which began over alleged paper leaks, have expanded to include demands related to jobs and recruitment irregularities.
The Indian Opinion
The BJP is right to ask why the Congress has not commented on a high-profile rape conviction. But the charge of a ‘nexus’ based on a letter and an award from over a decade ago is a stretch unless the Congress is shown to have interfered with the judicial process. The standard test: will the Congress issue any statement on Tejpal before Parliament's next sitting, or will it let this attack stand unanswered?
Sources (3): deccanherald.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
