NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has asked the Cabinet Secretary .jpg)
K M Chandrashekhar to look into the corporate phone tapping case and submit report to him within a month.
Inaugurating the Corporate Week 2010 here Tuesday, Dr. Singh said that he was aware of the nervousness in the corporate sector over the powers to tap telephone for protecting national security, prevent tax evasion and money laundering.
He, however, felt a need to look for solutions to technology to prevent access of telephone conversations outside the institutional framework of government. The Prime Minister informed that he has asked the Cabinet Secretary to look into the issue and suggest measures to prevent the leakages of recorded conversations outside the government.
Dr. Singh minced no words when he said that these powers are needed but he also cautioned that these powers have to be exercised with utmost care and under very defined rules, procedures and mechanisms so that they are not misused. The Prime Minister’s remarks come in the backdrop of Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata approaching the Supreme Court against the leakage of tapes involving him and corporate lobbyist Niira Radia. HDFC Chairman Deepak Parikh had also commented earlier this week on telephone tapping and leakage of ‘private conversations.
The Prime Minister said that the government is committed to provide enabling environment to corporate sector for its growth. Dr. Singh said that level playing field is being made available to all the stake holders in the sector. Lauding the corporate sector for its effort in inclusive growth, the Prime Minister, however, asserted that it will not be a full cycle without empowering the poor and the weaker section of the society.
Prime Minister also said that there was a perceived ethical deficit among some corporates which need to follow fair means in their pursuit. Expressing concern over the way natural resources are being used by industry, Dr. said, they need to be sensitive to the needs and aspiration of common man for their long term survival.The Prime Minister cautioned that in absence of adequate resettlement and rehabilitation of project displaced people, faith in industrialisation may erode. He said increased employability of population through skill development must be central to corporate strategy.
Prime Minister also inaugurated a website on corporate information. The website will make information available in English ,Hindi and eleven regional languages. The Corporate Aaffair Minister Salman Khurshid also released a book India Unlimited. The second edition of Corporate Week kicking off on Tuesday, concludes on 21st of this month.