Why do we not hold them fully responsible and give them these exit routes? From 1997 the regulator has been fully responsible for new operator, licensing conditions, spectrum allocation etc under the TRAI Act.

•D.K. SINGH: How is that when more and more people are getting disenchanted with politics, more industrialists are getting into it? Every time an industrialist contests as an independent candidate, he is sure to win by maximum margin?

First of all, I have no mandate and do not consider myself among the pack of industrialists. I joined politics because I spent some years being hammered by the political system. It was made very obvious to me how politics and politicians can destroy you in this country. Therefore, I defend the issue of industrialists entering politics. Second, I was fortunate enough at that point to be one of the younger guys on the PM’s council for trade and industry. I used to prepare notes — let’s solve the rural problem, let’s do this for telecom — and give it to somebody. After a year, I realised these notes often got shredded. The day of wisdom dawned on me when a particular minister whom I will not name said, ‘Arey aap apne matlab ke kaam karo naa, why are you giving me all these nation-building notes? Tell me what you want.’ So I figured out that from outside the system if you want to influence the system, it is never going to work.

... contd.