Expressing concern over the influence of corporate lobbyists over national parties like the BJP, former Union Minister Arun Shourie said that he was replaced as a lead speaker in a Budget debate over fears that he would oppose a proposal that may have benefited industrialist Mukesh Ambani.
Referring to recent publications of the taped conversations that corporate lobbyist Niira Radia had with politicians and journalists, Shourie said there was no doubt that in one of the tapes, it was clear that someone arranged for replacing him with former BJP President Venkaiah Naidu as a lead speaker from the party during the Budget debate in 2009.
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