New Delhi: Creating a fresh flutter, Nobel laureate V S Naipaul on January 14 expressed his "profound disappointment" over the treatment of tehelka by the Centre and said he expected that at some point of time the government will withdraw from the "sorry state of affairs" admitting its "lack of graciousness".

"I am profoundly disappointed over what happened to tehelka which can damage the country," Naipaul, one of the Directors on the Board of Tehelka, told reporters in New Delhi.

Concerned over the "crushing of intellectual life" in the country, he said writers and books were not the only ones, which could make the country look into itself but good journalism is very important for the process.

However, Naipaul, who was accompanied by his wife Nadira, and tehelka Managing Editor Tarun Tejpal at the press conference, said he still had confidence in and goodwill for BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) even after what happened to tehelka and Gujarat.

"Tehelka was a mistake by the government," he said.

Nadira said they (she and her husband) had met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to express their concern over the "grave situation".

"It was a very good meeting. The Deputy Prime Minister gave us a very patient hearing and assured us that he will look into the matter," Nadira said.

Expressing hope that "something good" will come out of the whole incident, Naipaul said from the "ashes" of tehelka, something good and positive will come out.

PTI