Panaji, April 1 (IANS) While lawyers on both sides of the bar sweat it out in the courtroom debating the Tarun Tejpal rape trial, on the outside the former Tehelka editor-in-chief is unwittingly kicking up a political storm.
The Congress has occasionally taken potshots at Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's seemingly bi-polar Goa Police which they claim was shockingly efficient when it comes to snaring Tejpal after an elaborate high profile chase and is shoddy and inept when it comes to arresting mining magnates and top politicians in Goa's Rs.35,000 crore mining scam.
But Facebook, the social media platform where Goa's urban and savvy electorate take political potshots and indulge in virtual trench warfare, has now been ignited, after comments Saturday by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Swati Kerkar regarding the Tejpal case.
"You (Parrikar) have chased Tejpal enough. But you have yet to arrest ministers involved in the mining scam," AAP's South Goa candidate Kerkar said at the party's first major public meeting in Panaji where its central leader Manish Sisodia was also in attendance.
Kerkar's comments are a sum of criticism from political as well as civil society quarters of Parrikar and his handling of the Goa mining scandal.
After going hammer and tongs against illegal mining trade for seven years, Parrikar after coming to power in 2012 first ruled out any illegal mining in Goa. He has been accused of scaling down the scam while going slow against politicians and mining magnates involved in the loot.
Kerkar's comments have, however, accentuated battle lines between the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) online cheerleaders and AAP supporters.
"I cannot believe that a woman would support ... Tejpal for political gains. And she claims to be an activist for women's rights? Shame on Swati Kerkar! As a woman I am outraged," says Shefali Vaidya, one of the many Facebookers who have been aggressively supporting the BJP.
Parrikar's elder son, the usually reticent Utpal, too joined forces by asking how exactly had the government, headed by his father, gone overboard on the Tejpal issue. "How has the government gone overboard with Tejpal? Why the soft corner?" Utpal asks AAP member Valmiki Naik.
The latter has called the accusations baseless and below the belt because Kerkar had never supported Tejpal in her comments.
"But is this how low BJP will stoop? ...I publicly challenge Shefali Vaidya to speak with Swati Kerkar to know her opinion; if not, she has to apologize for maligning her image."
This single debate on popular Facebook forum Goa+, which has over 38,000 members, has even resulted in the 'unfriending' of former Facebook friends on both sides of the political divide.
Tejpal was arrested after an elaborate multi-state chase by the Goa Police after a junior colleague accused him of allegedly raping her in an elevator during a high-profile conference organized by the owners of Tehelka, a national weekly magazine.
This is not the first time Tejpal has 'inspired' a political battle.
More than a decade ago, a Tehelka sting operation on arms trade had implicated the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
Modi blames Congress for farmers' poor condition
Sasaram/Gaya (Bihar), March 27 (IANS) BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at the election rallies in Bihar Thursday hit out at the Congress for neglecting farmers, who are fighting for
International Yoga Day: What is this year's theme, how useful in the Covid crisis
International Yoga Day, celebrated every year by the United Nations, is also being celebrated on 21 June this year.
Corona Updates: 4.3% reduction in new covid cases in the country; 2,706 people positive, 25 dead in last 24 hours
In the last 24 hours, 2,706 new cases of corona have been reported in the country, while 25 people have died. At the same time, 2,070 patients were cured of the corona. The number of active
Ruckus on Salman Khurshid's book: Congress leader compares Hindutva to ISIS; BJP's allegation - this is happening at the behest of Sonia-Rahul
There has been an uproar over Congress leader Salman Khurshid's book 'Sunrise over Ayodhya'. Khurshid has compared Hindutva with terrorist organizations ISIS and Boko Haram in this book. This book of
Weather Update Today: Chances of snowfall on the mountains and dense fog in the plains, know the forecast of the Meteorological Department
Dense fog along with cold in North India has increased the problems of the people. On one side it was chilly due to the cold wave. On the other hand, air and rail traffic has been disrupted due to fog
Lok Sabha Election: After a long discussion, Rahul Gandhi agreed to contest from Raebareli, but refused to contest from the Amethi seat.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has resigned from Amethi. Now he will contest elections from Rae Bareli, while Sonia Gandhi's
9 Vedacharyas of Kashi-Ayodhya will conduct Ramarcha Pooja for 6 hours, Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat will reach today
Today is the second day of the three-day ritual for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Ramarcha Pooja has started at Ram Janmabhoomi on the second day of religious ritual in Ayodhya. 9
Saradha scam: Kunal Ghosh Denied Bail, Another's CBI Custody Extended
Kolkata, Jan 22 (IANS) The Calcutta High Court Thursday denied bail to Saradha scam accused and suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh, while a city court extended the CBI custody of
Weather Update: The weather is going to change in the next 24 hours, it will rain heavily; Know what the updates are for your city
There is a possibility of heavy rain once again in Central and East India. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a low pressure area has developed over the Bay of Bengal. Its effect
Former Minister Jeetu Patwari called Home Minister Narottam Mishra a moving beauty parlor
In the state's politics, political allegation has now changed personally. The language style of the leaders has also changed over time. The matter has gone so far that the leaders are not even leaving