National   

Tehelka issue: Politically motivated, says BJP

By Our New Delhi Bureau

NEW DELHI, OCT. 4. The Centre's decision to wind up the Tehelka Commission of Inquiry — headed by Justice S.N. Phukan — and handover the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today drew reactions along expected lines from political parties. Those belonging to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) condemned the move but it was welcomed by the Congress and the Left parties.

Criticising the "politically motivated'' move, the Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary, Arun Jaitley, said the abrupt manner in which the Phukan Commission was wound up just as it was finalising its report was a "virtual admission'' that the "false allegations were not sustainable." Mr. Justice Phukan had submitted one report, he said and wondered whether the Government would try to reverse the findings of the interim report.

Brushing off allegations that the Congress was indulging in "politics of vendetta'' by handing over the case to the agency, its spokesman, Abhishekh Singhvi, said the Congress had always favoured a criminal investigation. "The BJP — also known as the Bangaru Judev Party — should explain why when a television camera recorded a case of bribe-taking, no FIR was lodged.''

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Polit Bureau member, Sitaram Yechury, said his party always maintained that the Tehelka probe should look into actions of corruption. "Instead, the NDA — to obfuscate the issue — decided to focus on the motives of Tehelka.'' The probe had been put on track now by the Government, he said and hoped that it would be conducted expeditiously.

`Make tapes public'

Taking strong exception to the winding up of the Phukan Commission, the Janata Dal (United) demanded that the report on Tehelka tapes be made public. "Instead of releasing the report, the Government has wound up the Commission and handed over the matter to the CBI which showed that the Congress and the United Progressive Alliance Government have not found anything incriminating in the report and are out for witch-hunting,'' the JD(U) spokesman and general secretary, Shiv Kumar, said.

What was needed to be exposed was why the Government altered the terms of reference of the Phukan Commission last week and directed it not to go into the "motive of the journalistic exposure.'' Alleging that the Congress was glossing over the issue of who funded the Tehelka scam and how, he said the Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Oscar Fernandes, "be asked who was behind the Tehelka conspiracy."

Throttling truth: Jaitly

Questioning the Government's sudden change of mind — given that it had on September 29 filed an affidavit stating that the Commission need not go into "journalistic ethics'' — the former JD(U) member, Jaya Jaitly, said the UPA Government was so busy protecting Tehelka that it would rather "throttle the truth." Of the view that the Government was only interested in "character assassination," Ms. Jaitly in the enquiry, said she would have nothing to do with an agency which was part of "witch-hunting."

Stating that she had cooperated with Mr. Justice Phukan and earlier with Mr. Justice Venkataswami — who, according to her, had been replaced because of the Congress — Ms. Jaitly said: "I am not going to be part of their ridiculous games. I have nothing to add to my depositions before the Commission of Inquiry. The CBI can read those documents.''

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Entertainment |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Insurgency-hit North-East asked to appoint nodal officers
BCCI gives telecast rights to Prasar Bharati
Second phase of joint naval exercise from today
Sahitya Akademi fellowship for Amrita Pritam, Anantha Murthy
Government callous towards internal security, says Advani
Not a violation, Congress tells Election Commission
Tehelka issue: Politically motivated, says BJP
Interconnect post offices to expand services: Manmohan
Notice on plea to derecognise parties with religious names
UPA policies blamed for spurt in terrorist acts
Government urged not to scrap Press Note 18
Support price for 25 rabi crops to be announced in two weeks
Notice on plea to derecognise parties with religious names
Quota for women under Job Guarantee Act sought
Cases pending against many candidates

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu