The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has slammed Ashley Tellis (64), Mumbai-born Indian-American defence expert who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at his home in Vienna, Virginia, over the weekend.

Significantly, Sanjeev Sanyal, economist and a member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council known for his close proximity to the Union government, too came down heavily on Tellis calling him a "deep state asset." Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rajya Sabha M.P. of the Shiv Sena (UBT) too joined the chorus for good measure alleging that Tellis "wasn't an expert but a sell-out."

Known for not mincing his words, Tellis, who had earlier worked with both Republican and Democratic administrations, was perceived in India as a left liberal who was critical of the Modi govern

See Full Page