"Another lobbyist, sought after by the large hotel chains as well as by the Tatas, is the politically active lawyer Lalit Bhasin, who is well-connected with the bigwigs of the ruling party."
I was shocked to find a reference in your article to the effect that I am a lobbyist for certain hotel chains and the Tatas. ("The Hidden Persuaders", September 15). I find such description of a professional person as highly derogatory and defamatory. My association with the hotel industry has dated back to 1968 and I have since then specialised in the laws pertaining to the, hotel and restaurant industry. I have been legal adviser to the Oberoi group of hotels and the Taj group of hotels. I have also been advising the Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Association of India. I have never tried to procure any favours from the Government for any of my clients including the hotel chains. Insofar as your reference to Tatas is concerned, I have no connection with them except that I am the legal adviser of the Indian Hotels Company (Taj group of hotels) which is one of the Tata companies.
Fair play demands that before any comments are made which may tend to give a poor impression about a person against whom the comments are made, the person concerned should be asked to give his side of the story.
It is an admitted and well-known position that I am an active Congress worker and I am proud of that. I believe that every intellectual should have political leanings and affiliations so that the right person should enter politics. However, my connections with the ruling party would not justify the remark that I am a lobbyist. New DelhiLalit Bhasin Our reference to Lalit Bhasin as a "lobbyist" who is politically active and "sought after" by the major hotel chains including the Tatas, was in no way intended to be a slur on him, his integrity or reputation. There is little doubt about the high professional regard in which he is held. We did not in any way attempt to condemn his political activism. - Editor
The recent conduct of your "gem" is that hes best on stopping foreign law firms from entering India......probably because the mediocre"gem" will not rise to star status if law takes over instead of being a political liasion.
"Congress (I) statwarts stoutly defend the move. Says Lalit Bhasin, a pro-Congress(I) Supreme Court lawyer: "I support these transfers."
https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19810215-transfer-of-judges-snowballs-into-a-major-controversy-772649-2013-11-27
Exhibit 2 (1984):
AICC-(I) legal cell convenor Lalit Bhasin issued a statement demanding constitutional amendments for making "the Opposition more responsible."
https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19840531-congressi-initiates-national-debate-on-presidential-form-of-government-803645-1984-05-30
Exhibit 3 (1986):
"Another lobbyist, sought after by the large hotel chains as well as by the Tatas, is the politically active lawyer Lalit Bhasin, who is well-connected with the bigwigs of the ruling party."
https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19860915-lobbyists-the-growing-tribe-of-hidden-persuaders-who-prowl-the-parlours-of-power-801243-1986-09-14
Exhibit 4 (1986):
I was shocked to find a reference in your article to the effect that I am a lobbyist for certain hotel chains and the Tatas. ("The Hidden Persuaders", September 15). I find such description of a professional person as highly derogatory and defamatory. My association with the hotel industry has dated back to 1968 and I have since then specialised in the laws pertaining to the, hotel and restaurant industry. I have been legal adviser to the Oberoi group of hotels and the Taj group of hotels. I have also been advising the Federation of Hotels and Restaurant Association of India. I have never tried to procure any favours from the Government for any of my clients including the hotel chains. Insofar as your reference to Tatas is concerned, I have no connection with them except that I am the legal adviser of the Indian Hotels Company (Taj group of hotels) which is one of the Tata companies.
Fair play demands that before any comments are made which may tend to give a poor impression about a person against whom the comments are made, the person concerned should be asked to give his side of the story.
It is an admitted and well-known position that I am an active Congress worker and I am proud of that. I believe that every intellectual should have political leanings and affiliations so that the right person should enter politics. However, my connections with the ruling party would not justify the remark that I am a lobbyist.
New DelhiLalit Bhasin
Our reference to Lalit Bhasin as a "lobbyist" who is politically active and "sought after" by the major hotel chains including the Tatas, was in no way intended to be a slur on him, his integrity or reputation. There is little doubt about the high professional regard in which he is held. We did not in any way attempt to condemn his political activism.
- Editor
https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/letters/story/19861031-hats-off-to-pt-usha-the-countrys-track-star-for-snatching-away-four-gold-medals-801368-1986-10-30