Party spokesperson Manish Tewari said "it is an important issue and I think it it encompasses the entire spectrum of the Indian public space."
Congress today said the issue of recorded tapes of conversations between corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, her clients and some journalists is a "serious issue" and expressed concern at the ability of the corporate lobbyists to "subvert national discourse".
"In so far tapes and transcripts that have appeared in the public space are concerned, we feel it is a very serious issue, which merits consideration not only for the criminality of it but more importantly as to what has been and is the role of corporate lobbyists and their ability to subvert the national discourse," party spokesperson Manish Tewari said at the AICC briefing.
He was responding to questions on the reports that the CPI(M) government in West Bengal had also been dealing with Radia's public relations company Vaishnavi Corporate Communications.
Reports had it that Vaishnavi has not only been representing West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation and the West Bengal government's information technology department, but Radia has also been directly interacting with West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and state industry minister Nirupam Sen.
The Congress spokesperson said "it is an important issue and I think it it encompasses the entire spectrum of the Indian public space."
Tewari said, "I am sure the government at some point or even the legislature will seriously address the issue what appears to be a very pernicious nexus".
Tewari's remarks came a day when the government ordered a probe into the leaks of recorded tapes of conversations between corporate lobbyist Radia, her clients and certain journalists among others.
The order to initiate a probe into the matter comes on a day when Tata group chief Ratan Tata approached the Supreme Court seeking action against those involved in the leakage of tapes containing his conversation with Radia.
Home ministry sources said the probe would be conducted by the Intelligence Bureau and the Central Board for Direct Taxes (CBDT) and will focus on finding out who leaked it and how.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}