The Girl Who Was Once Nira Sharma
- Moved to London from Kenya in the 1970s. Schooled at Haberdashers' Aske's. Bachelor's at University of Warwick.
- Has three siblings. Father in aviation. Three sons from failed marriage with UK businessman Janak Radia.
- India entry in 1995. Sahara liaison officer. India rep of Singapore Airlines, KLM, UK Air.
- Floats Crown Air as MD in 2000, with sister Karuna Menon as partner. Secures FIPB clearance to invest over Rs 100 crore, but plan falls through.
- Sets up Vaishnavi Communications in 2001, followed by Noesis, Victom and Neucom Consulting. Bags all 90 Tata group accounts. Reliance joins list in 2008.
- Bid to launch Magic Air collapses in 2005 as rules stipulate Indian ownership. PIO Radia holds a British passport.
- Spends months at Singur in '08 during Tata Nano row. Lands in 2G scam in 2010.
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The 2G scam tapes are a superb lesson in dialectology, loosely the study of speech styles. PR lady Niira Radia's accent varies in practically each conversation with politicians, business leaders, bureaucrats and top TV and print editors. She's matter-of-fact in some, husky in others; she's abusive in Hindi while speaking about some journalists to her staffers, she's assured while explaining extremely technical matters to business honchos, retired bureaucrats and editors; and has a schoolgirl-like British accent while conversing with Ratan Tata: "I hope the bad times are behind us," she tells the Tata Group chief at the end of a conversation.
Well, the bad times do not seem to be ending for Niira Radia. As the Enforcement Directorate launches an investigation into the 5,800 reported taped conversations from Radia's phone over a six-month period in 2009, all transactions with tax implications will be looked into. Home secretary G.K. Pillai tells Outlook that it was his predecessor Madhukar Gupta who had sanctioned the phone-tapping on the request of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, which was investigating suspicious fund transfers. These will be investigated now.
Since Outlook published extracts from the CD of Radia's phone conversations (submitted to the court) taped by the I-T department—and put the 140 conversations up on its website—there has been a raging debate. On what they tell us about the role of lobbyists in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, how the media interplays in such a system, and how our political class and retired bureaucrats are more often than not willing partners in the game. These debates do not detract from the aim of punishing the guilty behind the 2G scam; rather they raise disturbing questions we all have to answer. Who is this woman who can speak to the "highest and mightiest" in this country in this way? From where does she draw her power? And what does it tell us about our society? When Outlook asked her whether she would like to give her version of these recent events, Radia SMSed back: "No. Thank You." This is her story.
Quite like all those different accents, Niira's background remains a guarded mystery and the answers vary depending on who you ask for nuggets of information about her past. It has actually been carefully crafted that way. For all practical purposes, her life begins in the "early 1990s" when she says she made India her base. Considering that she is about 50 years old now, that means the first 30-odd years of her life are a blank—and it doesn't help that she has added an extra "i" to her first name (and even "looks different", according to a senior aviation ministry official who has interacted with her in the past).
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| On Record Radia at the Enforcement Directorate office in New Delhi on November 24 |
Soon after, Niira married London-based financier Janak Radia, a Gujarati. It was after a divorce that Niira decided to move to India, along with her three children, all sons. One of them, Karan, made it to the news in 2003 when the then 18-year-old was kidnapped by Niira's "business partner" Dheeraj Singh, grandson of the late former Haryana CM, Rao Birender Singh. Dheeraj Singh, it was claimed in the fir, was a partner in Niira's PR agency. This was one clear example of Niira's rising clout: despite all his political connections, it is learnt that Dheeraj Singh did end up spending some time in jail.
Not much is known about Niira's siblings—two sisters and a brother—though one of them, Karuna Menon, is involved with Niira's work in India. Karuna was, in 2001, co-promoter of Crown Express, Niira's first attempt to launch an airline which ended in failure. Karuna and two other people—Iqbal and Saira Menon—are also listed under the same UK address as directors of dissolved companies. More recently, Karuna has been identified as the president of Sudesh Foundation, whose trustee is "Nira Radia". Funded by Vaishnavi Communications, Sudesh Foundation's offices are located in Delhi's South Extension as well as Barakhamba Road (1st Floor, Gopaldas Tower, which also houses the Tata Teleservices offices. On the fifth floor are Reliance's offices). The trust is mainly charitable and has aligned with a 'Sri Rama Vitthala Trust' to start an Ayurvedic College in Karnataka. They accept donations. They are also involved with childcare, animal care, youth and disaster relief work. And going by news reports, Karuna is currently in Delhi, lending help to her sister.
By the mid-1990s, Niira—and her massive Chhattarpur farmhouse—had started making a mark in Delhi's rarefied and big-money aviation circles. Her interest in the aviation business came in useful here; she gravitated towards consulting for domestic and international airlines (Sahara, Singapore Airlines), manufacturers (Airbus) and aircraft leasing companies (like ILFC, AAR) at a time when India had just launched its Open Skies policy. She quickly gained respect in a big boys' club; "she was extremely polished," says a senior aviation man who interacted with Niira closely those days. The buzz around her had already begun spreading: be it her dress sense, the "farmhouse parties that started off with pujas" or her ability to press the right buttons.
Holy Wow: A Lankesh Patrike picture shows ex-PM Vajpayee calling on Pejawar Swami (seated) in 2003, with Radia in tow. (Courtesy: Gauri Lankesh)
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Later, when Ananth Kumar was moved to urban development and tourism, the catering for Niira's parties was reportedly done by the state-owned Ashok Hotel and ITDC. But for all her proximity to Ananth Kumar, Niira could not launch her own airline, Crown Express, in 2001. An industry insider says the airline was "without doubt" a backdoor entry for Singapore Airlines. Radia's lack of apparent funding didn't help matters. "She couldn't put all the pieces together," adds this aviation insider. Niira was to try again—in 2004, she floated Magic Air. But here again, in Praful Patel's regime, she faltered. This time round, Niira's PIO status worked against her.
That brings us to the enemy. When Ratan Tata made his famous Rs 15-crore bribery speech recently in Dehradun, one aspect got underplayed. Ratan was referring to the Tata Group's three attempts to launch an airline with Singapore Airlines (where Radia was a consultant). "But an individual thwarted our efforts to form the airlines," Tata said. And the person Tata refers to is Jet Airways' Naresh Goyal, who lobbied heaven and earth to ensure that the Tata-Singapore consortium didn't get its way. This was a powerful enemy for Niira, and was probably one reason why she didn't get her way with her private airline.
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After successfully managing the mess around Tata Finance in 2001—when the group took its former managing director Dilip Pendse to the cleaners on corruption charges—Radia made her mark. At a time when the BJP regime seemed unstoppable, she established links with politicians, bureaucrats and top print and TV editors. At this stage, the Tata Group had a furious battle with the Times of India Group, where it withdrew advertising (the Times group in return ignored the Tata group on its pages). While this battle was eventually resolved in 2004, Radia sent out a strong signal to the media that the Tata Group could not be taken for granted. Meanwhile, around 2002, Ananth Kumar got embroiled in the HUDCO scam—the case is pending in the Supreme Court. Given the subtext of her proximity to Kumar (which didn't last for long after that), Niira had also made strong enemies in political circles. The BJP's Arun Jaitley, for one, has been steering clear of Radia for some time now.
Lost Kingdom: Post-resignation, his former officials are 'singing'. (Photograph by Tribhuvan Tiwari)
After the BJP went out of power in 2004, Radia needed to make new political friends. And as the 2G scam tapes reveal, she seems to have done a pretty good job of it. Her closeness to the DMK's A. Raja—the man at the heart of the largest scam ever in India—is believed to have begun in 2006, when Raja was the environment minister. Since Tata Teleservices was a key client for Radia, this relationship paid off when Raja became the telecom minister in 2007. Now that Raja has resigned, many are speaking out about his role in the ministry. As a top serving bureaucrat observes, on the first day that A. Raja took charge as telecom minister, he received a sizeable "first instalment". Taken by surprise, Raja is reported to have dashed off to Chennai the same evening to present it to the DMK bosses, who were left wondering why Raja's predecessor had not similarly relayed earlier instalments, if any.
Common Foe? Tata told Mukesh Ambani to hire Radia for PR. (Photograph by Narendra Bisht)
Ratan Tata had, in a hand-written letter to Tamil Nadu CM M. Karunanidhi in December 2007, reportedly praised Raja's "rational, fair and action-oriented" leadership. As a no-holds-barred corporate battle lies at the heart of the scramble for scarce spectrum, the Tata Group's proximity to the telecom minister put it head to head against Airtel's Sunil Mittal, who was unhappy with Raja in the seat. The stakes became bigger when Radia brokered Mukesh Ambani's open support for Tata in the Singur controversy. By getting the PR mandate for Mukesh Ambani's business empire in 2008, she would have found herself in the hit-list of Anil Ambani, who is also Tata's competitor in telecom. It is believed that Ratan Tata told Mukesh Ambani to take on Radia as a client (it is reported that these two of India's largest corporate groups pay Rs 30 crore per annum each for Radia's services). Given that the Ambani brothers' fight was still raging, it was a natural alignment—both the Tatas and Mukesh had a common enemy.
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As the spotlight intensifies on Niira Radia, senior retired bureaucrats working for her are facing some uncomfortable questions. A senior former bureaucrat recalls that former trai head Pradip Baijal and ex-economic affairs secretary C.M. Vasudev told him they were joining the "lady who handles the advertisements for Tatas...Baijal seemed to know Radia better. They mentioned that the offer was very good as no investments would be required—yet after two years they would be partners in the company by virtue of sweat equity". Ajay Dua, former secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, who took premature retirement to join Niira Radia's team, is denying having done any lobbying "whether in my advisory or director's capacity nor am I inclined to do it". Dua, however, points out that "in India, lobbying has not been declared illegal". Similarly, C.M. Vasudev has said that he is no longer associated with Radia as "I did not opt for sweat equity". He does, however, admit the tapes do "create (a) reputation issue".
As Niira Radia fights the accusations against her, it's her reputation that has taken a battering. "This tapes matter will not lead anywhere," says a veteran lobbyist, "there are too many powerful people involved". Tapes don't stand up well in courts of law. But Niira Radia faces a bigger test, of reclaiming her "effectiveness". "She's going to be in trouble for a long, long time," says a former airline CEO. The spotlight is now on her clients, many of whom prefer to do business quietly. It's going to be a long, hard battle for Niira Radia.
By Sunit Arora with reporting by Lola Nayar, Arindam Mukherjee, Prarthana Gahilote, Pragya Singh in Delhi and Smruti Koppikar and Arti Sharma in Mumbai
The print version referred to "104 conversations" by mistake whereas 140 conversations were put on the website.
| Also In This Story |
| niira radia Radia's links with Narendra Modi might eventually have swung the shifting of the Nano plant to Gujarat |
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 opinion The stink in lobbying can be dispelled by the clean garb of advocacy |
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 opinion It's no wonder journalism got embedded in the high stakes of a newly rich India |
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| The Net Our news media blanked it out, but the Internet forced the issue |
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| the net There's one Radia tape which has been completely overlooked... |
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 opinion Incredibly loud, incredibly silent. Indian journalism, caught on tape. |
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Authors: Sunit Arora
People: Niira Radia | Ratan Tata | Narendra Modi
Tags: Spectrum Sale and Scams | Corruption | Scams/Frauds/Rackets | Lobbyists | Tata Group | Telecom | Phone Tapping & Surveillance | Politics | TATA Nano | Media | tata tele | Journalists
Section: National | Business
Subsection: Cover Stories
Nov 27, 2010 03:13 PM 1 | A 'cunning womans' style of operation, is to use a male, rather than wet her own feet. This much is clear from the several males who let themselves be used in the 2G scam. MMS-Italian Gandhi; Kanimozhi-Raja; Sunanda-Tharoor and Chavans M-in-law - Chavan, are all examples. And is another scam-within-a-scam. Some more points are clear, given the gender-casteism in our society. For eg., Nira may never see jail for treachery, where she rightfully belongs to. The laws clearly state that while males are guilty unless proven otherwise, females are never guilty, even if convicted. The brainwashed judiciary and hen-pecked media will never grow up to that extent. In this country, while false allegations of rape and dowry can send males to jail, murderers and people guilty of treason walk scot free, thanks to gender casteism! Besides, with all the powerful 'friends' - from the Ratan Tatas to the Mukesh Ambanis - and far far beyond - who can she fear? Maybe a book by one of her 'friends', exposing all? |
| Nov 27, 2010 04:48 PM 2 | NDTV IS NATIONAL DISGRACE TV.Their only aim is to disgrace everything that indians are proud of our ancient civilisation our culture our religion our patriotism .Barkha was responsible for indian armys casulty in kargil war for her irresponsible coverage and during the attack on mumbai. i was shocked when Barkha commented on public slogan pakistan murdabad as it being a dangerous thing after chabad house was liberated. a journalist even after witnessing such terror attack on india says raising slogans against pakistan is dangerous cannot be indian she must be having pakistani blood only.it only shows what kind of channel ndtv is. as truth cannot be hidden forever the true nature of Sonia Gandhi (who have converted a Kashmiri Pundit Family to a christian family ) and her cronies has finally been revealed to the world. |
| Nov 27, 2010 05:15 PM 3 | Thanks to Outlook for bringing the story to the spotlight. Will you continue to pursue it till the culprits are penalized? Or will it be another entertainment episode crediting Outlook? Justice delayed is justice denied! We can not revolutionize our country without rooting-out corrupution from our society. And we cannot do it without the help of media– liberal media! |
| Nov 27, 2010 05:17 PM 4 | Thanks to Outlook for bringing the story to the spotlight. Will you continue to pursue it till the culprits are penalized? Or will it be another entertainment episode crediting Outlook? Justice delayed is justice denied! We can not revolutionize our country without rooting-out corrupution from our society. And we cannot do it without the help of media– liberal media! |
| Nov 27, 2010 06:45 PM 5 | The most interesting thing is how India's so-called Miracle Worker, Mr Rotten Tatter, stands exposed as just another sordid capitalist villain. Maybe my comment makes him angry? No problem! He should just go for a nice long drive in a Tatter Nono to cool down. |
| Nov 27, 2010 09:41 PM 6 | This is not a new story..From drawn of industrialization broker are playing important roll all over the world. How can Rockefeller Ford, Birla Tata Ambani are multi multi billionaires within few year. What about your owner Raheja? Is it possible without malpractice anyone will be trillianary?Tout broker are essential part of capitalist society.In Niira`s case every thing open so there is so much uproar.These kind of stories happening in past and will happen in future also.How can we change human nature?In different period different norms Can man abandoned his self interest?Without manipulating can man earn his living?Be remember we are helpless creature hopeless creature... |
| Nov 27, 2010 11:27 PM 7 | What a cracker of a story and a cracker of a lady! |
| Nov 28, 2010 08:49 AM 8 | I want to say something about Sudhir Sharma's comments above , he starts of ok then goes into a rant about Sonia Gandhi .. why ? i ask my self do people just close their eyes to the fact. let me educate him and his ilk . Feroz Gandhi was a Parsi, not a hindu he married a hindu lady . So the children will be also Parsi. So Rajiv would be a parsi. His father never was a Kashmiri pandit.AND even if we go by the twisted logic that cause Indira Gandhi was born to Hindu parents so her kids would be Hindu , then very well , by the same logic would Sonia Gandhi kids not be of her Religious faith. Why do some within us say anyone who is famous and powerfull belongs to our caste or our faith. And the not so famous are usually orphans... as far a the community and caste go. Grow up people. |
| Nov 28, 2010 09:07 AM 9 | Everybody is going after barkha dutt, what about the likes of ratan tata? Why is this man put on a pedestal? In India if anybody is light skinned or can look like a firangi is given a free pass to do anything and get away with it. All these years he has been reported to be disarmingly candid about all his failures and that allows him to go scot free. He brings out Nano --- supposedly for the common man --- and it keeps catching fire. He uses all the profit, and investor's money to buy defunct and meaningless companies (which nobody else wants) like corus and jaguar. His company keep producing poorly made trucks and suvs. He gives huge amounts of money to already rich foreign universities (the kind of money that can be easily used in India). He claims that India is becoming a banana republic because finally the ugly truth about his character is coming out and he is the one who sounds going totally bananas. The kind of common gossip he indulges with this woman is not befitting his position. His poseur of being some kind of saint in Hermes ties and designer suits is finally unraveling --- he is nothing but an old dandy who likes some fat woman buttering him up. |
| Nov 28, 2010 09:38 AM 10 | I hear all the defenders of Bharka Dutt say well it is hard to prove quid pro quo.. and all i have to say to them is really, do you really think we have such lack of grasp of the truth that anything you spin we would let it pass. ... to all of them here it goes,"Remember for some strange reason she was given Padma Shri for Journalism in 2008, this is just one of those things out there in the public domain. It seems to a navie person like me, that someone could not just hold it in, ( you know what i mean) they wanted to shout from roof tops about their immence appreciation and tingle they got everytime they saw her.We all have seen the quality she brings to her circus shows and even now you people really think that we all are idiots. I guess this hubris in yourr ability to coat the facts with your twisted logic comes from the fact , that you people have been doing it in such a masterful fashion for all those years that you think that we would chew it with no resistance. Citizens news flash, We no longer belong to the citizenry which would just roll over or bend over and grab our ankles, as you conduct in this shameful manner. But we stand here and now, matching you word for word and logic to logic. We are not just some impoverished people living in some backwaters. We are Global citizens. And have equal clout and money to rub your face in the filth that you cover up every time someone stands up to expose you and your creed of cretins. So stand back or get with the program and let the truth roll out , or else be ready for the wrath of what is know as the Indian Middle class. |
| Nov 28, 2010 11:42 AM 11 | You have done a marvelous job! Many congratulations. Barkha has to go like Raja.. Will Dr. Roy be at least as strong as Dr. Singh and ask for Barkha's resignation? Outlook: Your thoughts plz.. |
| Nov 28, 2010 11:52 AM 12 | Barkha has a show on ndtv , called the buck stops here . it seems only buck that stops with her is with mahatma Gandhi on it . Same goes for Pranoy Roy and his gang at ndtv. |
| Nov 28, 2010 12:04 PM 13 | I have to admit, this nice lady is indeed an asset. As Mira Bai sung: Niira Bai might be singing: PS: whichever astrologer advised her for this second "eye", failed to anticipate this disaster, I guess. |
| Nov 28, 2010 12:28 PM 14 | He is ruthlessly ambitious man, greedy to leave some kind of memorable legacy, that's why all these donations to the foreign universities --- an attempt to put a stamp of tata name abroad. If he doesn't like black tie affairs then why does he always dress like a show piece? |
| Nov 28, 2010 12:33 PM 15 | You must admire Niira Radia. I say Niira Radia for Foreign Minister. Let her practise her wiles on diplomats of all countries. |
| Nov 28, 2010 01:41 PM 16 | "Ratan Tata may move Supreme Court on Monday against the publication of intercepts of his conversation with Niira Radia.....Tata plans to argue that as Radia's calls were intercepted by the Income Tax department and the recordings were required to be available only toofficial agencies, it was rather surprising the conversations found their way into the media." timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Stung-by-tape-Tata-may-move-SC/articleshow/7002146.cms |
| Nov 28, 2010 02:15 PM 17 | >> Ratan Tata may move Supreme Court on Monday against the publication of intercepts of his conversation with Niira Radia.....Tata plans to argue that as Radia's calls were intercepted by the Income Tax department and the recordings were required to be available only toofficial agencies, it was rather surprising the conversations found their way into the media. This is indeed true, and certainly a violation of privacy. I do hope the govt finds out who was responsible for the leaks, and takes suitable action against them. Unfortunately, such motivated leaks are all too common in our country. Often, the groups that are complaining now, celebrate if the victims are those belonging to the "right wing". |
| Nov 28, 2010 02:18 PM 18 | "Through her Billion Dollar conversations, Niira changed the perception of people at large that there is no substance in women's gossip." |
| Nov 28, 2010 05:00 PM 19 | What went by& large unnoticed is that the lady is not even an Indian. Her Person Of Indian Origin status does not take away the fact that she is a foreigner straddling unhindered across every corridor of power with all its implications. |
| Nov 28, 2010 05:09 PM 20 | Some one is asking what about Ratan Tata. Tata is threatening to go to the courts for invasion of his privacy. If past records are any pointer the courts may even pull Tata's chestnut out of the fire & what is left of independent media may be forced to clamp up giving a descent burial to the scam. |
| Nov 28, 2010 06:10 PM 21 | To protest against Darkha Butt and Seer Vinghvi, who started as iconoclasts but ended up becoming power brokers, I call upon all Indians to switch to some other channel as soon as these two appear on TV. |
| Nov 28, 2010 07:52 PM 22 | >> Ratan Tata may move Supreme Court on Monday against the publication of intercepts of his conversation with Niira Radia.... Great. We know that was to happen and so will be many other thuggeries behind the screen. Precisely, that is the reason why people are so much scared to question Vir-Barkha. They have many many influential connections capable of demolishing any one. Do we forget what happen to Chetan Kunte . It is still fresh in our minds and we knew the Dons wearing their liberal masks. We the people are to blame for many things. We are fools hypontized too easily by their verbiage or the grabage they spit out on us. Does it need super intelligence to see the truths, to see the dirty faces behind the velvet masks ? |
| Nov 28, 2010 07:57 PM 23 | Ratan Tata has one loyalty - to himself. |
| Nov 28, 2010 07:58 PM 24 | I do not think that anyone is really surprised by all these revelations, inter alia, of the lobbying, the corruption, the politicians-big business nexus, the kind of wheeling-dealing that takes place 24/7, the flexible ethics of journalism, etc. Nevertheless, tapped transcripts which ought to be used as evidence in the Courts of Law should not have been placed in the public domain. Crime must be punished but the right to privacy of the individual must also be respected; for example, why should Raja's alleged crush be leaked out? Would one like it if the transcripts of one's telephonic conversations are published? . |
| Nov 28, 2010 08:55 PM 25 | >Would one like it if the transcripts of one's telephonic conversations are published? . Larger national interest takes precedence over an individual's privacy. In any case what is recorded in these tapes are not private matters but matters of public interest. What is sinister is that these tapes were recorded by government agencies at the time of formation UPA-II. The topmost political executive ,senior ministers & bureaucrats must have been aware of what is going on. Despite that Raja went on to be the Telcom minister & inievtably what had to happen did happen. The silver lining is some body deep down in the bureacratic heirarchy must have sereously disturbed & frustrated & leaked the tapes at great personal risk, never mind he took it to corporate or political rivals or even sold them. So big issue is it's content ; there will be plenty of time to deliberate it's ethics. |
| Nov 28, 2010 09:05 PM 26 | It's been a burning issue – 2G scam, which is nothing but another exaggerated and fabricated by media by mixing reality and myths, truth and falsity, facts and fictions. Many big names are coming out, but the situation is being used by some unseen corporate hands for their own benefit keeping common man in dark and leading the nation's attention to some corner. It is noteworthy that just a lady is being targeted in whole story for the last few weeks. At the same time in a country like India people should live in peace. Unless something is proved, how can you publicly discuss the background story of a person? I am just wondering how people are writing false reports. Since when has govt started tapping personal conversations, we are in a state of emergency! we are not safe here ? Very sad - these men had nothing else to do but attack a woman – successful woman on her own capacity. |
| Nov 28, 2010 09:23 PM 27 | This story of spectrum 2 g himalayan corruption case will help certain political parties to score over other and certain corporate houses over other as well as one media vs.the other. But ultimately politicians, bureocrats, corporate houses and the media joined hands together to cover up this very big loot in this great country. India consist of majority of poor and ordinary people toiling for one meal a day (which itself is not available for many people), but on the other hand handful of influential body, individuals are being allowed to loot the wealth. I beleive only a people's revolution of the kind will change the situation and nothing else could bring about any change. |
| Nov 28, 2010 09:41 PM 28 | # 26 Dr K Giridhar This is the beginnings of gender-casteism, where SeX is the new ReligioN and GendeR is the new CastE! |
| Nov 28, 2010 09:52 PM 29 | One thing for sure - Mr Vinod Mehta will no more be a penalist on 'We the people'. |
| Nov 29, 2010 12:03 AM 30 | @ Manish It is not about tapping phones; it was in the national interest that phone tapping was done. It is not about the prosecution of law-breakers; it has to be done. It is not about whistle-blowers either, but for whom, these facts would not have seen the light of day. It is about the conspiracy of silence by the media-at-large, with honourable exceptions. It is about protecting individual rights. It is about placing in the public domain of evidence meant to be placed before a court of law. Investigators and prosecutors should have full and unrestricted access to these conversations, not the lay public. Only relevant parts of these conversations should have been published, taking care to protect individual identities. No democracy worth the name can allow violation of human rights in the guise of national interest. |
| Nov 29, 2010 12:15 AM 31 | I support the views expressed by Gridhar and others that it is not fair to make the evidences of a scam public when it is still under investigation. Sorry to say that media is not acting with dignity and responsibility. |
| Nov 29, 2010 09:10 AM 32 | Why the tapes were leaked? Well, may some honest babu was frustrated by this mess. Does any of this erodes the bigger question of "lobbying undermines the democracy"? Did this create a smokescreen on 2G scam? |
| Nov 29, 2010 09:48 AM 33 | The Indian Govt must record all telephone conversation and analysed it for anti-national activities. Honest INDIANS will have no problem- maximum that can happen to HONEST MEN would be that some lechorous idiot would overhere his love talk to his wife. The "violentl objection will only be from the MANIPULATORS, CORRUPT, WOMENIZERS, people indulging in NEFERIOUS ACTIVITIES etc. People who lead a transperant life will not object to their telephone conversation being recorded. People who want to "hide their neferious activities" alone will demand PRIVACY. |
| Nov 29, 2010 09:57 AM 34 | Where was Ratan Tata when there was a huge debate about tapping phones? What was he doing Then? |
| Nov 29, 2010 10:16 AM 35 | >> The Indian Govt must record all telephone conversation and analysed it for anti-national activities. No, it shouldn't. We are not living in a police state. Such recording should be done only in extreme cases, and after due authorization. In this case, it seems authorization was taken. However, the leak is still bad. Even from a practical perspective, taping all conversation is meaningless. We don't have the capacity to sort through it all. Genuinely useful information shall be lost in the sheer volume. Plus, if people know they are being recorded, why shall they be candid on the phone? They shall use other means that are not being monitored. |
| Nov 29, 2010 10:43 AM 36 | Is tapping 'good' only when terrorists are involved, but 'bad' when anti-national crooks plot to steal the countrys wealth? Is nt stealing the national treasures by plotting with journalists and politicians, as bad as shooting down 100 people - if not worse? |
| Nov 29, 2010 12:45 PM 37 | I wonder whether all this happend without a cut going to 10, Janpath...Impossible! Give me authority and resources, I can trace out every penny! |
| Nov 29, 2010 12:54 PM 38 | He is not as clean and as patriotic as one might think. The whole comment about being offered a bribe of 15 crore was just a ploy to divert public attention from the tapes. The man protests too much --- obviously he has things to hide.He is not as patriotic as you might think. A long time ago, in one of his interviews he said --- in India we enjoy a certain degree of freedom but that is not possible in Iran, now why would he make a remark like this unless he still thinks about his Iranian heritage --- obviously in hearts of hearts he still doesn't consider himself a real Indian.When asked why he was not married, he said he had come very close to marrying SEVERAL times both here and abroad. What was he trying to show --- that he had been such popular ladies' man both here and abroad but didn't have the decency to take the responsibility to make commitment to one woman.Mamata Banerji is right about this man. He is not as straight forward as you think. Why has he donated 50 million dollars to Harvard --- a university that doesn't need any money. It is personal ambition and greed to leave a legacy --- that's why all these last minuted stupid acquisitions too of all these foreign companies (that no body else wants) |
| Nov 29, 2010 02:37 PM 39 | "No, it shouldn't. We are not living in a police state." As Mr PARTHASARATHY has said nothing will happen to "honest citizens" if their phone calls are recorded. Most HONEST people will not have any objections if what they talk to their wife, mother or to even Banker / stock broker is recorded. The objection comes from people who have illicit relations ouside their marriage, indulge in corruption, manipulation, violence, neferious activities etc. More than 45 Crore starving Indians would rather have "food in thier tummy" and if it can be achieved by stopping CURRUPTION by taping telephones, it would be welcome by them. Remeber, they are in majority amongst the voting public and so it becomes "DEMOCRATICALLY the opinion of majority too". |
| Nov 29, 2010 02:58 PM 40 | Ramesh your post # 6 above This is all about corruption and its related illegality. If one goes by your post then why do we have rules and regulations or laws altogether. junk them. It is more about excessive greed on the part of those so called elite (politician, govt. babus, judiciary and media). According to one estimate all these "lukhhas" have swindled the indians and india for trillion of american dollars over the years. Britishers have looted an alien country (India) but these "chors" have looted thier own country and countrymen. Now it is high time to think whether we should go and vote at all in the election. |
| Nov 29, 2010 03:03 PM 41 | the way dayanidhi maran was hankering after cabinet berth is disgusting or rather the word "disgusting" will sound pale before him. He reportedly paid stalin's mother Rs. 600 crores. How did he earn that much money. they should be renamed as dakus and luteras. |
| Nov 29, 2010 03:39 PM 42 | >> the way dayanidhi maran was hankering after cabinet berth is disgusting .. Actually, there is nothing wrong in any MLA/MP promoting oneself for a berth (in general). What is more shady is Business interests and media colluding to influence ministry formation in a way that is beneficial to a business. And by extention, is the media promoting those politicians who agree to be support those business interests? Then it gets more murkier. Journalists can have their opinions - for example a journalist can have a strong disagreement on hindutva and his/her opinion pieces/articles/interviews/debates etc may reflect that view at some level - nothing wrong in that. But if there is a promotion/demotion of politicians on a basis of the politicians support for business interests, that is different matter altogether. So, is a Radia kind of influence responsible for Media softening on Mr. Modi. Or in going overboard in favor of Nitish? Or for that matter being sympathetic towards a political party etc? |
| Nov 29, 2010 05:32 PM 43 | Post # 42 All politicians may not be corrupt, but certainly they do not anymore deserved to be called and should not be called as MLA/MPs. They have every right to promote themselves for the elite posts so that they can loot the coutry more and more. But why to blame these elite groups, the so called ordinary people also sell thier votes. |
| Nov 29, 2010 05:37 PM 44 | # 41 He paid the money only to stay in the good books of the Karuna family and not to earn favours from them. There IS a difference. |
| Nov 29, 2010 06:17 PM 45 | # 44 and you have put the difference (IS) in capital letter and needless to explain what the term "capital" means!! |
| Nov 29, 2010 07:12 PM 46 | I think India can not be free from scams. Here each & everything is sold. There is no control over the netas after the election. God only can save indians. |
| Nov 29, 2010 08:09 PM 47 | We have received the following mail from Bhaskar Majumdar of Vaishnavi Corporate Communications as their official statement This is with reference to the story Niira, Of Two Eyes published in the Outlook issue dated December 6, 2010. We would urge you to kindly publish the following on your website as part of the online version of the story as also in the next edition of the publication. The publication of the transcripts of some purported conversations is without verification and authentication. The Outlook like a responsible media ought to have confirmed the authenticity and the motivation of the sources who have leaked these conversations on a selective basis. We are presently finalizing our response on your aforesaid story including the legal remedies to indicate that the story has been developed with a preconceived notion - to discredit Ms Radia . Hence the limited response. For e.g. Niira has been mentioned as sporting the name Nira Sharma which she never had! For the record, Sharma was the maiden surname of Niira's late mother Sudesh. The Foundation mentioned in the story – Sudesh Foundation is in memory of her mother. This for obvious reasons does not find a mention as it may not have fit into the scheme and colour of the story so projected by the vested parties! The story is result of a vilification campaign at the behest of vested interests. Quite clearly the malicious and misleading rumour mongering is seeking to find credibility through media reports are clearly diversionary tactics to ensure that the real issues are not probed and investigated by the authorities. |
| Nov 29, 2010 08:41 PM 48 | "The publication of the transcripts of some purported conversations is without verification and authentication." - This is obfuscation. None of the persons who have been caught on tape have denied the conversations took place. If these tapes have been fabricated, let the persons who feel their reputations are being tarnished, say so. The onus would then be on Outlook and Open to prove that they are in fact authentic. The only comment so far has been that they have been taken out of context (standard line) or that they have been edited to give a wrong twist (serious charge). PS. Who leaked these tapes? |
| Nov 29, 2010 09:27 PM 49 | Bhaskar Majumdar of Vaishnavi Corporate Communications Why has TATA gone to Supreme Court if the "conversations" are "purported". Evidently the conversation is real and part of the conversation which have NOT been made public may be "more hugely embarassing" making "people" to run to Supreme Court. While "AAM ADMI" has to wait for years to obtain judicial redress, the rich are preferentially treated by even the SC!!!!!!!!! |
| Nov 29, 2010 09:48 PM 50 | >> As Mr PARTHASARATHY has said nothing will happen to "honest citizens" if their phone calls are recorded. To begin with, I wouldn't be so sure. But more than that, even if the govt's intentions are benign, it has no business snooping into people's private lives. >> The objection comes from people who have illicit relations ouside their marriage And that would be a very valid objection. One is free to have the deepest contempt for individuals cheating on their spouse, but it is not the govt's business to snoop around on this issue. That's besides of course the fact, that it has more important things that it should spend its energies on. |
| Nov 29, 2010 10:18 PM 51 | I have been a constant reader of Outlookindia for many years. I admire the media for its role in shaping the nation. However, I am nowadays frustrated to observe that everybody including media is playing with the common man's innocence. We never react to any issue.; just read the reports presented in the print-media and 'enjoy' fictions by paying. This attitude is being used by Media industry as well as some corporate bulls. By such useless reports, they make us fools and nothing else. |
| Nov 29, 2010 10:30 PM 52 | I am wondering how these personal telephones are tapped? If this is the case, we feel that this nation is not safe to live a peaceful personal life. Is it possible to talk to wife with a secret mobile? If you make fun of a highly reputed personality like Tata, then who would care common man? I don't know who is Niira Radia. But, tell me why all of you are chasing her? What interest you have in it? I suspect these media people are puppets of some crocked businessmen. |
| Nov 29, 2010 11:01 PM 53 | A betrayal, few lies and a pinch of truth love, hate, and compassion all drained in greed some of them kill, some of them dodge and few fall who know what happened in the corridor's of power it all again too much for a pure being to even contemplate |
| Nov 30, 2010 03:42 AM 54 | Nira Radia is a remarkable Indian woman of varying talents. Her vocation is lobbyist and public relations bigwig for the big business and her avocation is-to make and unmake ministers in the central government. Remarkable! |
| Nov 30, 2010 03:54 AM 55 | Forgot to add-she should be revered as a modern day Indian Goddess. Aspirant future ministers should be in her good book. |
| Nov 30, 2010 12:49 PM 56 | From the news highlighted Niira Radia looks to be a highly professional lobbyst. Her PR work is commendable. As projected she does lot of charity and social service. She is seen with Swamiji of Pejavar Mutt who is also in front line of social service. I feel that she has charged fees for the service given to her clients. What is the intent to project her in the midest of scam by media. The problem is with the government servants who may not have done a proper job. They have to answer the public. |
| Nov 30, 2010 02:02 PM 57 | On last sunday i happened to watch the programme "seedhi baat" anchored by Prabhu Chawla and participant was Baba Ramdev and ironically the subject pertained to the corruption. what a joke. do the likes of chavla really think either people are fools or they have short term memory? How come babaji does not know that Mr. Prabhu is caught on camera having convo with nira radia. Baba Ramdev is supposed to wage a war on corruption and at the same time participating in the programme anchored by the one who is caught on tape. Babaji your clarification please |
| Nov 30, 2010 02:04 PM 58 | "Yaar ranjan congress to apni dukaan hai". said by Mr. Ambani to Ranjan B. Mr. Ambani enlarge your outlook and perspective. Join politics, be politician, "phir to puri country aapki dukaan" |
| Nov 30, 2010 02:16 PM 59 | >How come babaji does not know that Mr. Prabhu is caught on camera having convo with nira radia. Babaji is a scam by himself. |
| Nov 30, 2010 09:14 PM 60 | Kind of wrong in this context buy one cant help but admire the woman. |
| Nov 30, 2010 11:37 PM 61 | After seeing the program in NDTV on Barkha Dutt, Its time tor NDTV to act on Barkha Dutt, why she couldnt answer? People are watching, they know what is a coverup and what is truth, its shame that the journalism which is regarded as a noble profession was brought down. Is there anyway to file an RTI. Now that the question arises on the reporting of Barkha dutt, I think all her reporting done till todate has to be questioned? Thanks to Outlook for bringing the story to the spotlight |
| Dec 01, 2010 06:44 AM 62 | with all the exposers in your newspaper one thing is clear that only one SADHU exists by the name vinod mehta,congats that he has helped in solving the spectrum scam.but how his kitchen is burning without black money,or is it that he did not his share in the raja affair.so be it,but one thing is clear that he has exposed all connections of all vips who are under the of gentlemen have been hankering for money in one way or another,othervise why would senior berucrats after retirement hankar behind a lady who means bussiness and want to utilise the talent of all these retired bandikoots,ultimately it boils down to money money and nothing else.mr mehta what have you to say,do you still claim that you are DUDHA KE DHULE HO. NAHIN NAHIN |
| Dec 01, 2010 08:22 AM 63 | How does the cliche go Barkha, "the best defense is offense?" And how about, " you can fool the people some of the time but not all the time"? |
| Dec 01, 2010 09:07 AM 64 | shame on barkha dutta and pronoy roy ndtv.... earliar i hav one faith that in india there is one channel called ndtv who telecast only trugth.but after knowing all this thing i am really shocked. today i found why ndtv specially barkha always percial on bjp....barkha it is better 4 u to say sory to the nation and quit ur job...because after konwing all this thing i will not watch ur show....and i will request to other ndtv viewer to not watch her show...coz she is one kind of "anti national".barkha ur ofence is not less then our politician..and ur defence style also like lolit mdi like kamadi..."I DID NOTHING WRONG" just same on u. |
| Dec 01, 2010 09:07 AM 65 | Does RADIA have a valid visa? Is not she an illegal immigrant? I think, PIO is being misused by all those people who have? Identifying Cholera or Cancer is not a deal but curing it. I think if we use a lie detector across all government heads, the device will DEFUNCT. As V S Naipaul said, India is a land of darkness (in hearts). No doubt about that. How many scams? How many corruptions? How many bribes? How many rapes? How many loots? How many accidents? How many scandals? How many more more? When can we say "No More"? Our country needs a new constitution; people need a rational conscience; government needs a proper clarity. Burkha has finally been out. She has brought down Mr. Pranoy Roy's all the effort and euphoria to indefinite loss. Dr.Roy, I feel sorry for you. I can't digest the fact that honesty fell for a worn out beauty. One more fall for Bengal. We need to ask Shekar Gupta for the truth now... |
| Dec 01, 2010 01:20 PM 66 | There are many Nadias around. Retired bureaucrats, relatives of judges, sons in law of politicians -- they are all in the power game, promising to get work done from the government, at a hefty price. This one got caught. But many others, agents who get licenses, move files in government offices, get affidavits made, gets loans sanctioned...they all thrive without the media glare. |
| Dec 01, 2010 01:25 PM 67 | Comment removed for reported abuse |
| Dec 01, 2010 01:42 PM 68 | Nira Radia's father was never in the aviation sector. She started coming to India during Mr. Narsimha Rao as the Prime Minister tenure. What was her business in London prior to coming to India. - Want to know ??? |
| Dec 01, 2010 03:13 PM 69 | Mr. Vinod Mehta is it the end of tape-gate or there are many more tapes remain to be made public? I do not think it will bring down the heaven but certainly let the truth be made public. our country is on sale definitely. I am hoping against hope and imagining the worst case scenario whereas our vital institutions are not kept as mortgage by politicians. |
| Dec 01, 2010 03:36 PM 70 | This displays exactly how these journos get rich, flaunt power and enjoy luxury. People like Vir Sanghvi are like dogs at the gates of rich people - you need to throw a chicken bone to get your way free. They have been enjoying luxury and earning money by misusing the power of so called 4th pillar of democracy. For those, who sould have seen Pipli Live, it would be easy to understand this whole chain of events. Meanwhile Barkha Dutt has tried to clarify her stand, who appears to be 'so innocent' that she has never met A. Raja. Why should someone meet someone face to face, where things get done through a phone call. I am sure, public would come out to express their distrust in the media representatives like Vir Sanghvi and Barkha Dutt. Anyways, more than half of their programmes are paid journalism or advertorials (NDTV 'Good Food', Times of India 'Delhi Times', TimesNOW 'Foodie' etc.). They can do anything for money. People of India are educated, intelligent enough to appreciate the difference between a principled journalist and a cheap political agent. |
| Dec 01, 2010 04:00 PM 71 | The radia tapes put the credibility of journalism under deep suspicion.The conversations which took place between the who's who of business,media,bureaucracy and politics do not establish anything legally but hint at the rut which has set in the system.Lobbying comes handy when clear cut procedures do not work in fixing a deal.The unsettling part about the whole affair is not lobbying as such but the extent to which it can influence decision makers and policy decisons.Radia seems to have played to the gallery in fulfilling her own business ambitions.Ilk of her kind are the wheelers and dealers in a highly mechanical society. |
| Dec 01, 2010 04:06 PM 72 | One more thing, Barkha Dutt should have been fired by NDTV long time back, just after the death of food critic and editor Sabina Sehgal Saikia in 26/11 Mumbai attack. She was mostly responsible for what happened to Sabina. The same way Vir Sanghvi should have been fired by HT after 26/11 when he wrote the obituary for his fellow journo Sabina. Instead of expressing his sorrows, he was wondering about a whopping amount of money Sabina's husband earned from his websites...!! How can they be journalists? |
| Dec 01, 2010 08:54 PM 73 | After reading the latest issue of Outlook, I wonder who is the 'real' face and voice behind the tapes - is it Outlook's view or Mr.Raheja's concocted story so that his Outlook sells ? After going through the cover article, I am convinced that the entire story is doctored and is inclined to spread falsehood without any basis of proof and the story is published even before the Judiciary is yet to take a stand. Is the Outlook trying to influence it's beliefs on the judiciary? I am under the impression that the media has a responsible job on hand in creating social awareness and certainly should not be spreading malicious campaigns like this. The above details of Niira Radia are NOT an unofficial biography or a personal view but they are pure facts which may be verified. |
| Dec 01, 2010 09:16 PM 74 | D P Anantha, Criminal leakage of official tapes has unleashed an orgy of personal defamation. Thanks for pointing it out. |
| Dec 01, 2010 10:02 PM 75 | It is indeed a triumph of true, unbiased and dedicated journalism. Thank you "Outlook" for speaking out where others have deliberately decided to stay silent, for being brave when others have cowered, for being honest when others have been deciteful. It takes GUTS of MAMOTH PROPORTIONS to take on such influential people.... We the people of India are thankful to your magazine and your editorial team for keeping us informed. Guess, rest of the media community in India could learn from your fearlessness. Satya indeed Mewa Jayate. Jai Gorkhaland |
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