Dec. 11:: The news magazine Outlook released 800 new tapped conversations involving the lobbyist, Ms Niira Radia, and 2G spectrum allocation on Saturday. The conversations, all part of an officially sanctioned tap, are on top of the 140 conversations placed in the public domain by the magazine three weeks ago.
The magazine says that many of the tape already shine a mirror on the interplay between government and big business. The fresh conversations are part of over 5,800 conversations now in the custody of the SC, a release issued by the weekly magazine stated.
The embattled news news anchor, Ms Barkha Dutt, figures in the new release of conversation. In a conversation with an unidentified person, to whom Ms Radia says “Your minister”, the corporate lobbyist says: “Congress ne to statement Thank God issue kar diya. Barkha ne karwaa liyaa us se.” The unidentified person confirms the statement. “Haan woh to maine dekh liya. aa gayaa naa Manish Tewari kaa”. The magazine on it website says: “(CLUE: She says ‘Your minister’ to this guy. Who is he?).”
In a conversation with Mr Tarun Das, the former head of the CII, from the time when the UPA-2 Cabinet was being formed, Mr Das says that he had suggested Mr Kamal Nath’s name for surface transport ministry. He says Mr Nath is a doer and can “make his 15 per cent” while doing some national service. He adds that he had suggested Mr Nath’s name for the portfolio “big time”.