PM more worried about tapes leakage, not govt's credibility: Advani

Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for ordering inquiry into telephone tapping, senior BJP leader L K Advani today said he appeared to be more concerned about leakage of tapes than credibility of his cabinet whose formation he suggested was influenced by lobbyists.

Referring to the recent revelations made by leaked tapped conversations between Niira Radia and senior journalists, Advani said the nation had witnessed how business lobbyists play a role in government formation.

"It appeared that UPA government is not formed by the Prime Minister and, for long, we were under the wrong impression that it is not the PM but 10 Janpath (Congress President) which forms the Cabinet. But now, it has come forward that its neither the Congress president nor the PM who forms the government," he said.

Advani said the tapes reveal the confidence with which lobbyists claim who should be allotted what portfolio.

Advani also referred to Singh's order asking Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar earlier in the day to look into the issue of telephone tapping.

"He (Prime Minister Manomhan Singh) is worried about that (leakage). What is the aspect of concern? Common man's concern is about the credibility of the government. There should be concern about this but that is not there," Advani said.

He said the Prime Minister might not be aware of several things going on in his government.

Advani said during the stalemate in the winter session of Parliament, government did not give a single "credible" reason for not agreeing to JPC probe on 2G scam.

He also criticised the Prime Minister on the appointment of P J Thomas as Central Vigilance Commissioner saying he insisted on having the former telecom secretary for the top job despite Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj's objections.