1 00:00:08,415 --> 00:00:11,487 NKS: Yeah, we got it - Niira: Sorry, the network went off...yeah, yeah. 2 00:00:11,487 --> 00:00:28,384 NKS: So, I think that you know, uh, and uh, Jiten Prasad has made it good because he's got Petroleum as the NOS where he can do a lot because you see, the incompetence of Murali is proverbial. Niira: Hmm - 3 00:00:28,384 --> 00:00:42,976 NKS: Um...everytime the question comes up in any house of Parliament he is more busy trying to appease that questioner to see if he can stay out...I mean, uh, (chuckles), but I think that perhaps Mukesh has swung it for him. Niira: Hmm. 4 00:00:42,976 --> 00:00:48,096 NKS: I mean uh, the continuity in the Petroleum ministry. Niira: Hmm. 5 00:00:48,096 --> 00:00:58,336 NKS: But uh Murali is an incompetent minister, he may be a good man. So hopefully there's a chance for Jiten Prasad to do something. Niira: Mmhmm. 6 00:00:58,336 --> 00:01:16,512 NKS: And uh, that's the other comment I have. Otherwise, in terms of the Finance ministry pretty much uh I was all the time uh - I was all the time convinced that Montek will not make it. Niira: Yeah, that I - that was right, yeah. 7 00:01:16,512 --> 00:01:33,152 NKS: Because he tried much earlier for the (inaudible), you know, during the transition, and didn't cut ice. And in any case this time pitted against Pranab there was no chance. Niira: No chance. But what about Planning Commission, will he go back to that? 8 00:01:33,152 --> 00:02:04,384 NKS: Yeah yeah, he's been told that he'll go back. And they will try to do some uh...do some cosmetic changes there, here and there. So uh...he'll go back there and buy time. I mean the best bet for him would be if he can try the Rajya Sabha ticket of Jayprakash Agarwal which is the one seat in Delhi which will be vacant. Niira: Hmm. 9 00:02:04,384 --> 00:02:15,391 NKS: And if he can't do that then in August there are several...uh, seven nominated MPs whose posts are falling vacant. Niira: Hmm. 10 00:02:15,391 --> 00:02:17,695 NKS: One of them is Vimal Jalan. Niira: Hmm. 11 00:02:17,695 --> 00:02:23,071 NKS: And unhesitatingly Montek is as much of a professional economist as Vimal. Niira: Correct. 12 00:02:23,071 --> 00:02:29,983 NKS: And and uh so I think that he can you know, try for that. Of course, if you become a nominated MP you cannot become - Niira: - Hold office. 13 00:02:29,983 --> 00:02:33,567 NKS: - You cannot become a minister. Niira: Minister, that's right, yeah. 14 00:02:33,567 --> 00:02:37,664 NKS: (inaudible) will prevent him from being a Deputy Chairman. Niira: Correct. 15 00:02:37,664 --> 00:03:11,711 NKS: Uh, uh, so uh, that's the thing there. So to be seen and watched. Jairam has got a very good assignment. Jairam Ramesh, I spoke to him in the morning, and uh Environment and Forest is going to be a very important responsibility in the next two years with Copenhagen, and the world in general becoming more conscious about uh global warming and expecting us to undertake lot (inaudible) so that's that. 16 00:03:11,711 --> 00:03:16,575 Niira: Is he happy with it, I was told that he may not be happy with that. NKS: He is very happy. 17 00:03:16,575 --> 00:03:26,559 Niira: He is, is it? Coz - NKS: He is very happy. He - because he has got...I mean, you know, if he would have shot for the independent charge of power there would be no - 18 00:03:26,559 --> 00:03:30,143 Niira: (inaudible) NKS: No way, till Shinde was around. Niira: Hmm. 19 00:03:30,143 --> 00:03:51,903 NKS: Uh, till Shinde was around he couldn't tip Shinde into it. But let me tell you there are couple of things in this. One, there is a degree of temporariness in this because I think that the sparring between the NCP and Congress will increase in the next two months as you draw close to the Maharashtra elections, right? 20 00:03:51,903 --> 00:04:01,375 Niira: Mmmhmm, mmhmm. NKS: As it is yesterday on the television, there was sparring between Prithviraj Chauhan and Praful. By the way, Praful would be very unhappy. 21 00:04:01,375 --> 00:04:14,175 Niira: Mm, he is, he is, by the look of things, yeah. NKS: Because any old guy has been given an elevation, leg-up, but he hasn't kept - I mean he could have been made Cabinet Minister for Civil Aviation. 22 00:04:14,175 --> 00:04:24,671 Niira: No but he's destroyed the sector, I'm sorry, I mean I do have a view about it. I don't think he's done justice to the sector. NKS: No! I think that he has worked as a minister for Mr. Naresh Goyal. 23 00:04:24,671 --> 00:04:36,959 Niira: Naresh Goyal, yes, and now Vijay Mallya, you know, and that's it. I mean, look at the National Carriers and - NKS: - And the National Carriers has gone in decline, and he cannot brush off this charge uh very likely, in my view. 24 00:04:36,959 --> 00:05:04,608 Niira: Correct. NKS: Uh...and uh, they should have really shuffled him around, I mean, uh...But I guess they didn't want - I guess this shuffle will come depending on the dynamics in the next two months on how they do the Maharashtra thing, so this is one area to be watched, what happens in Maharashtra. The other area to be watched is the somewhat mercurial behaviour of Mamta. 25 00:05:04,608 --> 00:05:16,127 Niira: Hmm. NKS: She's (inaudible) disinvestment, privatisation, so...I mean she may act as a carrier of many of the ideas which were earlier attributed to the Left. 26 00:05:16,127 --> 00:05:38,656 Niira: Mmhmm. NKS: So, that's that. Their interest in us continues in a manner of things, because Jairam asked me what is JDU actually deciding to do. And the fact that they have virtually zero presence from Bihar is indication of keeping uh... 27 00:05:38,656 --> 00:05:54,527 Niira: The door open. NKS: Yeah. Because you see, they had an option of taking Laloo and uh, Raghuvansh, they didn't, (they) kept the door open, they had the option of taking that fellow Digvijay Singh who won as an independent-open but didn't. 28 00:05:54,527 --> 00:06:05,791 Niira: Hmm. NKS: So uh, that option remains open but we have to make up our mind and the strategy which is, we're gonna brainstorm, you and me, one of these days, okay? 29 00:06:05,791 --> 00:06:08,096 Niira: Okay, sure, sure. NKS: So I thought I'd - 30 00:06:08,096 --> 00:06:19,359 Niira: That'd be great, yeah. Okay, I'm away for the weekend, I'm going to Vaishnodevi, but I'm - I've just got back from Bombay yesterday night, so I'll be in Delhi all next week so you can let me know. NKS: Okay...how is your son? 31 00:06:19,359 --> 00:06:26,783 Niira: Oh he's fine, he's much better...yes he's very fine, thank you. NKS: Well give him my best wishes, I was very pleased to meet him that day. 32 00:06:26,783 --> 00:06:30,111 Niira: Thank you so much. He's in Bombay, he's started work there so that's good. NKS: Great. 33 00:06:30,111 --> 00:06:35,488 Niira: Thank you! NKS: Have a good darshan, when you get back from Vaishnodevi, give a ring, Niira and we'll - 34 00:06:35,488 --> 00:06:41,082 Niira: I'll do that, most definitely. NKS: And your people are doing a fabulous job on the, on the (inaudible) and publicity part - (Tape ends)