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S P Hinduja denies lobbying
for Keith Vaz: PTI

S P Hinduja, chairman of the Hinduja group, Sunday described as "totally false" reports that he had lobbied with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to make Keith Vaz a minister.

"Well, I am not the person to decide anybody's cabinet positio, but I have been suggesting to the Labour Government, even to the opposition, whoever has been in power that knowing Britain, multi-cultural understanding, they should also promote and introduce in the machinery, ministers and civil servants from minority communities also.

"At no time have I written or I have said specifically for Keith Vaz" Hinduja told David Frost in BBC's television programme Breakfast with Frost.

The question pertained to a report in Sunday Telegraph that the Hinduja brothers had lobbied with Blair to give Vaz a ministerial job.

"(It is) totally false and moreover, the decision is with the prime minister. Who am I to decide that?" Hinduja said.

Asked specifically what transpired between him and Peter Mandelson, the secretary of Northern Ireland who quit following the row over the passport-for-favour controversy, Hinduja said, "Well, I just casually enquired from him, could you please let me know what is happening to my application? What is the progress of my application?"

"I never thought that the developed world and the people in Britain, the media in Britain, would one good morning get up and tell me that well this donation (1 million pound for the Millennium Dome) which was given by my foundation is linked with the passport."

He said it was not only Mandelson "I enquired from. A couple of others, people in the political world, whether they have any idea of the application or what is happening with my passport application."

He said that among others, he had made such enquiries with Vaz and a couple of other "friends" also.

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I have not asked anyone for a favour: S P Hinduja
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