Women politicos on Thursday condemned the decision of Tehelka magazine editor Tarun Tejpal of stepping down from his job for six months after admitting to a charge of sexual misconduct against a woman journalist, and also said that stern action must be taken against him.
Union Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Girija Vyas, said that the law should take its own course in this matter.
BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said that the sexual assault case levelled against Tejpal is no less than rape.
"If any of you has read what the girl has gone through, in today's definition of the amended law, it is nothing less than rape. Sexual assault is what has happening to this young girl, young child," she said.
"The so-called atonement letter which has come is also shocking because in that atonement letter, it is as if a paid holiday for six months is granted and the criminal actions can be covered in lieu of that," she added.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Smriti Irani, echoing similar sentiments, criticized the Tehelka management for brushing aside charges of sexual assault by a female employee against Tarun Tejpal.
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'I am appalled and I totally condemn the criminal negligence which is been undertaken and indulged in by the Tehelka management. When they brushed aside the charge of sexual assault by a female employee against Tarun Tejpal," she said.
"I am equally appalled by the arrogance of Tarun Tejpal who seeks to do public penance by just setting away from office for six months," she added.
She also asked why the Tehelka management did not constitute an internal complaints committee as mandated by the sexual harassment workplace act.
"I am amazed that the Tehelka management did not stand by the victim, instead supported Tarun Tejpal who has publicly proclaimed that he did indulge in an act of criminal misconduct. Strict action should be taken against Tarun Tejpal. As per law, the minimum punishment is seven years of imprisonment. He should be rightly put behind the bars," she added.
Tejpal, on Wednesday, sent a letter to Tehelka Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhary, saying that he was stepping aside from his job for six months, and was squarely to be blamed for the sexual misconduct incident.
Tejpal further said that it was a bad lapse of judgment on his part, and that he had completely misread the situation.
He said that he has apologised unconditionally to the concerned journalist, but felt that he needed to atone for his misconduct further.
Tejpal, who is a founder member of the Tehelka magazine, said that he was stepping aside as an act of penance.