Chennai: The re-induction of George Fernandes in the Union Cabinet was "highly immoral", Tehelka chief Tarun Tajpal said on September 25.

Though the Tehelka tape episode did not indict Fernandes directly, most of the incidents contained in the tape happened in his house, Tejpal told a press conference to announce the launch of a tabloid.

The tape exposed the arms deal, in which a number of officers were involved.

Fernandes should have taken moral responsibility for the happenings in his ministry and should not have been re-inducted till the Commission of Enquiry into Tehelka exposure had completed its probe, he said.

He said Tehelka, which had spent thousands of man-hours and provided materials to the Justice Venkataswamy Commission, had decided to boycott the Commission as it felt its efforts would be a waste.

The government, instead of helping Tehelka, had attempted to gag it, he alleged, adding that 'in a Democracy, dissent can never be silenced.

He said Tehelka's Tabloid, a weekly paper, would hit the stands in the middle of November.

Over 100 persons had already become a founder subscriber to the paper, by contributing Rs 1 lakh each. The paper would strive for transparency in governance, which was lacking in the country now, he said.

Tehelka would start functioning from October 1 in new premises as its office had been sealed by several agencies of the government, he said.

PTI