In the last few years a string of reports have brought to light how Public Relation agencies, corporates and middlemen have all pushed for changes in policies that would benefit their clients. In other words they have successfully lobbied to curry favours for their clients. Unlike the West where lobbying is within the ambit of law, in India there are no clear laws to regulate it - lobbying persists as a thriving business.
The question is should lobbying be made legal? Does India need laws to regulate lobbying for the sake of transparency if not anything else? Do people of these country have a right to know who made policy changes and at who's behest?
Joining us on the show will be Image Guru, Public Relation expert Dilip Cherian, eminent corporate lawyer Raian Karanjawala, Bhopal-activist Satinath Sarangi, Food and Trade Policy Analyst Devinder Sharma, Sharif Rangnekar, who heads Integral PR and Amitava Behar, Executive Director, National Foundation of India.
