Samata chief condemns clandestine recording

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MARCH 14. The Samata Party president, Ms. Jaya Jaitly, today objected to the `clandestine' manner in which the tehelka tapes recording was done and shown and maintained she never did or said anything that she would not say in public.

On the tape/transcripts in which she had suggested that she would speak to the Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, regarding a deal, she said she had responded when the people who approached her complained of some ``injustice.'' ``I was only trying to fob them by saying I shall speak (to the Defence Minister).''

Her party had up-to-date accounts certified by Income Tax authorities, she said. She had not taken money personally but had asked those who came with it to donate to the party.

The Samata Parliamentary Party tonight steered clear of the controversy. Briefing correspondents after a meeting at the residence of the Defence Minister, the Minister of State for Railways and party MP, Mr. Digvijay Singh, said the issue should be discussed in Parliament and a decision on the nature of probe -- judicial or parliamentary-- could be left to the House.

``The Samata Parliamentary Party would be guided by the House which could decide on any kind of probe,'' he said and asserted that the entire NDA stood united at this hour.

He disagreed with the demand of NDA allies such as Mr. Ramakrishna Hegde of the Janata Dal (United) and the Trinamool Congress seeking the resignation of Mr. Fernandes. ``I do not know on what basis the demands are being made,'' he said.

The Parliamentary Party, he said, did not discuss the issue of Ms. Jaya Jaitly stating it was a matter to be decided by the entire party.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : NDA stands united behind Govt.
Next     : Jana Krishnamurthy acting BJP chief