In a conversation with corporate lobbyist Niira Radia posted on the website of news magazine Outlook,the former chief mentor of the Confederation of Indian Industry,Tarun Das,says he pitched big time for Kamal Nath for the surface transport portfolio. Highway construction and road construction is a big priority. He (Kamal Nath) is a doer,he can make his 15 per cent in this. You can do national service and also make money., says Das in the tapes. Radia allegedly responds: This is still an ATM (automated teller machine). The conversation,a part of the tapes capturing Radias role in the allocation of 2G spectrum,which allegedly took place during May 2009 when the Cabinet was being formed by the UPA government,reveals the hectic lobbying for ministerial berths. Surprised over Naths appointment as the surface transport minister,Radia said it could be a signal that he had gone a bit overboard. Das agreed but pointed out that Naths predecessor T R Baalu had stalled road construction during his tenure. When contacted by The Indian Express,Tarun Das said he perceives Nath as a doer who has an ability to get things done. In exchanging ideas with people about a wish list of responsibilities,I did talk about surface transport for him. When I used big time,I mean forceful, he said,adding that his remark about 15 per cent was irresponsible and unfortunate. My public apologies to Mr Nath, he said.Das,who has worked for 45 years with the CII and is consulted by the government on policy matters,purportedly talks to Radia about Anand Sharmas induction as commerce and industry minister. I know him reasonably well,but not too well. Well have to brief him.educate him. Hes new to this industry area, he said. In an earlier conversation,he allegedly speaks to Radia about A Rajas chances of getting telecom portfolio again. Too many people are against him, he said,to which Radia responded,Thats only the Sunil Mittals. Ive promised that Raja will speak to Mittal and deal with the matter. Das then agreed to talk it over.
