Kumar sacked for ‘perception management’, suggests Ashutosh

New Delhi, Sep 1 (PTI) Sandeep Kumar, sacked as aminister after an "objectionable" CD emerged showing him in acompromising position with a woman, did no wrong and actionwas taken against him solely for "perception management",party leader Ashutosh suggested today. Stating that the row over Kumar’s "objectionable" videoexposes the "hypocrisy of the society and hollowness of themedia", Ashutosh wondered why the seemingly obvious"consensual act" should create ripples in the media andpolitics. "The party took no time to remove him from the Cabinet. Apolitical party which is in the business of perceptionmanagement, which vouched for the character of its leaderswhile admitting them as members, had no other option thanthis," Ashutosh wrote in a blog. That was the only only justification offered by Ashutoshon the action against Kumar in the piece where he otherwisequestioned the hullabaloo over the issue. He went on to cite Indian leaders including JawaharlalNehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee who had "lived with theirdesires beyond social boundaries". "The video clearly establishes that both individuals kneweach other and consented to sex in a private space away fromthe public glare. The question then is that if two consentingadults are physically involved with each other, is it a crime? "The woman seen in the video is not coerced by anystretch of imagination. She has not even complained after theact to anyone. She has not gone public complaining of anywrongdoing…It’s not rape. It’s a case of two adults withtheir consent indulging in sex. What wrong has the man done?"Ashutosh asked. PTI SBR TIR ZMNTIR