Irate Praful Patel calls Radia ‘economic terrorist’

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel lashed out at lobbyist Niira Radia on Wednesday night, calling her an ''economic terrorist'' with ''vested interests'' and a ''personal agenda''.

''You want me to comment on lobbies and their agents and what they have said? They have vested interests and a personal agenda,'' Patel said, asked to comment on new leaks of Radia's tapped phone conversations in which she calls him incompetent and a stooge for a private airline.

Reacting to Patel's comments, a spokesperson of Vaishnavi Corporate Communications, which is headed by Radia, described the remarks as "irresponsible and baseless."

"It greatly pains and offends us when a person in high authority makes such irresponsible and baseless comments. However, we have no intention to enter into any meaningless war of words on the issue," the spokesperson said.

In the tapes, Radia is heard telling Singh that Patel has ''destroyed the (aviation sector). I am sorry I do have a view about it. I do not think he has done justice with the sector.''

In reply, Singh say,: ''He has worked as a minister for Naresh Goyal (founder of Jet Airways).''

Radia then says, ''Yes, yes and now Vijay Mallya (of Kingfisher Airlines) at the cost of the national carrier.''

Patel said he was not bothered about ''smear'' campaigns. ''One has to live with it,'' the NCP leader added.