Phone rings (Pal, pal, har pal)
Niira Radia: Hello.. Ganapathy: Hi..
Niira Radia: Hello. Ganapathy: Hello?
Niira Radia: Hi.. Ganapathy: Hi.. your voice.. voice is very faint.
Niira Radia: Oh God.. you know I.. Ganapathy: You're not well or something?
Niira Radia: No no, I'm fine. I'm just little.. you know, probably sleepy that's why... Ganapathy: Tired? Niira Radia: No no...
Niira Radia: How did it go? Tell me. Ganapathy: Yeah.. so far it.. Rohini came back and told me about this GVK letter and all that.
Ganapathy: So.. I have helped her do a story on how these power units are complaining.. how they have a major problem with the Bombay High Court order.
Ganapathy: How they want to.. the government to intervene and all that.. but there is a lot of fights going on.. obviously the friends are mounting a lot of pressure.
Ganapathy: You would have seen that statement na.. by that lawyer.. whatever.. Niira Radia: Mukul..
Ganapathy: Haan, in the morning saying they will.. now should be allowed to sell the gas and all that. Niira Radia: Because I don't have Hathway or don't have those things... I'm not sure what's being said...so, what's being said?
Ganapathy: See, he said that after the court admitted the.. Niira radia: The trading part.. I got that.. what news are you carrying at 8 o'clock?
Ganapathy: Yeah, that's right. We have just said that they.. they now say they should be allowed to sell.. they are saying that delay in setting out the path because of the lack of supplies.. and therefore they should now be allowed to sell.
Ganapathy: They are saying they are also doing the same so why should we not allowed (sic) to do the same? Niira Radia: I saw that yeah. What happened to the GVK letter?
Ganapathy: That is separately done you know. That is a separate story. So we have kept that. That would be given much more prominence. So, there is a hell of a lot of push and pull going on - major fights.
Niira Radia: How can there be a fight when the GVK letter and everything is on reecord and all that? They can - They can't block it. Ganapathy: No, no can't you see the obvious design in the way RNRL is going about projecting its case? How they want to sell gas.. this, that.. blah blah..
Niira Radia: Yeah, yeah absolutely! They are never gonna get that you know Ganu... they are never gonna get that - there will be hue and cry and they will continue to do that.
Niira Radia: That's what. The GVK story - did it come out well? Ganapathy: Yeah, yeah. Made it much, much better. But apart from GVK it also mentions GMR. Niira Radia: Tata Power. Ganapathy: Yeah, Tata Power, torrents.
Niira Radia: Okay. Ganapathy: So.. that would make the case stronger. Then fertilizer appropriation also.
Niira Radia: And did they have a reaction, the other sides? Ganapaathy: Uhh... no. Niira Radia: Hmm..
Ganapathy: Obviously not. Niira Radia: And this got carried- what- 8,9 and 10' o clock is it? Ganapathy: Yeah, yeah.
Niira Radia: I was told that you know the lead story - is it true? Ganapathy: No, not in the paper.
Niira Radia: Tomorrow it's not a lead story? Ganapathy: No, no, not in the paper.
Niira Radia: Why? Ganapathy: Because they are carrying a lot of other things. They have Pranab Mukherjee's bhashan (speech) today.
Niira Radia: Haan.. Ganapathy: And then then something about the.. companies.. the free flows. The public holding in companies that should.. should have that minimum level that they are going to implement from December onwards.
Ganapathy: So, those are the things which have been.. today there was also Finance Secretary meeting with Deputy General. Then.. apart from Finance Minister and then a lot of other things they have said about the (?) blah blah blah...
Niira Radia: So what you are saying is that the GVK story is not the front page tomorrow? Ganapathy: We are trying but it's not the big one.
Niira Radia: I told her very clearly and she had a word with both Andy and Rahul. So she indicated and she said she had a word with you as well. That that would be the lead story and that would be the front page because I told her.. I mean if you do that otherwise I'm not going to give you another letter.
Niira Radia: And now you might as well give it to HT then, who are willing to give me a front page. I mean Nayantara was after me on CNBC that, like big time saying Mint will carry it front page, as the deal that they have got. And Sukumar himself called me and said give it to me and I'll do it you know..
Ganapathy: But is it one way flow or two way flow? Is it that only CNBC carries the Mint news or does Mint also carry the CNBC news? Niira Radia: Both. Ganapathy: Okay..
Niira Radia: They have a tie up and in fact Sukumar called me in the afternoon after that.. he said Niira why don't you give me this GVK? I'll do it.. I'll make sure that if Nayantara carries it on CNBC, I'll give it front page tomorrow on Mint. And I could have given it to him, 'cause he was giving front page. Ganapthy: Hmm.
Niira Radia: I would have got it on HT also. Sanjoy Narayan was hell bent on getting it. Ganapathy: Achha but, Sanjoy is you know... whose friend he is? Niira Radia: No no, Shobana has stepped in.
Niira Radia: Shobana has clearly stepped in and told them, 'Nothing doing on this one.' Ganapathy: Oh, I see.
Niira Radia: Nothing doing.. that's very, very clear... that's a bit of an unfortunate thing because.. no point giving.. then that will be a problem na.. so you tell them..
Ganapathy: No, no I have already spoken to them. So now Rahul and others are finding a way how to do it. I am pretty sure they must be getting hundreds of phone calls from you know the..
Niira Radia: No, but Ravi has promised me that if he intervenes on Tony.. by Tony's say so tomorrow.. if he intervenes.. then I have told him very clearly.. I said I had a long chat with Jojo today almost for about half an hour on this issue and I have explained to him and I have told Ravi also today..
Niira Radia: I said, look you know, we are in a fight and you know, we have certain expectations. And if you go by a certain thing, then fine. Then we'll draw the line.
Ganapathy: I have introduced the element of natural resource in that. They all want to make sure that the natural resource is distributed in line with the allocation policy and not in line with anything else.
Ganapathy: So that will be forming an integral part of the.. Niira Radia: Ganu tum thoda dekh lo isko, abhi bhi time hai na (Ganu take a look at this, there is still time right?)
Ganapathy: Yeah yeah they are still working on it. I have told my... keep a close eye on it. I will speak to them again. My only worry is that.. I have a feeling that it's going to get permanance in Mumbai but not so much in Delhi.
Niira Radia: That will not be good. Ganapathy: But anyway, so I will work on that.. speak to them again. But if you need to tell anybody, remind anybody - you can do that.
Niira Radia: You think I should do that? Ganapathy: Yeah yeah, one reminder nothing... no harm.
Niira Radia: Then they'll know that I know.. I'm keeping an eye. Ganapathy: In that case then leave it to me. I'll speak to these guys.
Niira Radia: What about the Andhra government letter Ganu? Because I have that. I didn't give it to her today intentionally. I didn't want to give it to her. But that's a big letter.
Ganapathy: I think let's take that up separately. Niira Radia: No, no that I'll give you only, na.
Niira Radia: Yeh bhi maine isko diya (I gave this too to her).. because you told me to give it to her. Ganapathy: Yeah yeah .. I wanted government extentions because she told me that she has spoken to people in our office and they were okay with this idea.
Ganapathy: After that I said okay fine. In that case, we should let it go if it's getting comment, we should get it. But that was my point. Niira Radia: Hmm Ganapathy: Anyway I'll check out... in the next half an hour I'll call these people and speak to them. And then work it out.
Niira Radia: Because today they were trying to spread this whole rumor, that this whole issue is.. that the government has not been served notice, which is not true.
Ganapathy: What they were trying to say is that the government is not been made party to the case.. it can only be a interceptor not a respondent or something like that.
Niira Radia: Correct, correct yeah. But that's not true, right? They are an intervenor and respondent both. Intervenor on their side, respondent from our side.
Ganapathy: This is the RNRL story. Niira Radia: Yeah yeah.. it's coming?
Ganapathy: That was there na earlier.. during the day Supriya had taken all this na? Saying whatever they said... Niira Radia: Hmm? Ganapathy: Haan about the lawyer saying that they should be allowed to sell and how... that the government is not a respondent and what the intervenor, blah blah blah blah... and all that.
Niira Radia: If she is carrying that story then it should be allowed to tell them then they'll have a problem. Supriya's written that story na? Ganapathy: Yeah yeah.
Niira Radia: Well, let us see how it goes. Ganapathy: Maybe ask somebody to give a call to Bodhi or somebody?
Ganapathy: I think because today he was working a little late maybe somebody can give him a call. Niira Radia: And tell him what? That I know that's its not coming on front page?
Ganapathy: No, no don't say that. You should... I think first you should ask somebody else to speak just to say that they shouldn't give too much importance to all that, lies spread by... you know I'm saying that government is not a respondent blah blah blah etc. So.. that should be fine.
Ganapathy: Once that goes down then that comes up whatever the.. Niira Radia: But how prominent is that story compared to this one?
Ganapathy: Not so much. Niira Radia: Because this is a big story, na the GVK one. Ganapathy: Of course, of course.
Niira Radia: You know Ganu I just want to know whether you wanted me to give it to Rohini which is why I gave it to her.. I am not interested in working with her. Because I know you and I don't know why I have to work with her.
Ganapathy: Let me... that we will... let me see how consistent she is, then depending on that we will... Niira Radia: No I am under the impression that she is working under your supervision.
Ganapathy: Yeah, of course. Niira Radia: Because she is a bit of a loudmouth. Yeah so you know I'd much rather work with you and understand from you what you want and work it that way I mean..
Ganapathy: First I wanted to read that copy you know... before that I am fully aware of the background and stuff.. Niira Radia: Which copy? this SMC?
Ganapathy: Haan haan. Niira Radia: Tumko mila nahin kya? (You didn't receive it or what Ganu?) I am surprised. Rohit said he had sent it to you. To the studio. It's come in a hard copy, it's come in an envelope to you.
Ganapathy: In my office? Niira Radia: Yeah. Ganapathy: No it's not.Agar aisa hota toh (If it had been so then) Rohit would have told me on phone that koi aa raha hai (someone is coming).. or whatever.
Niira Radia: Okay then I better tell Cecilia to send it herself then tomorrow. Ganapathy: Yeah yeah sure. If there is a problem it can be sent to my residence.
Niira Radia: Yeah yeah I'll make sure it gets sent to you straigtaway tomorrow. Ganapathy: Sure sure.. because.. Niira Radia: I told him very clearly to send it to you and he said I sent it, he confirmed to me I sent it, it's gone to ET Now.
Niira Radia: Oh God... Achha tomorrow Manoj Modi is meeting MC Venu .. this one .. TK Arun.. maybe. I am setting up a separate time for you and Supriya also .. for you, not Supriya.. you have to tell me who you want to bring from ET Now..
Ganapathy: Okay fine. Niira Radia: Yeah? Ganapathy: Yeah yeah sure.
Niira Radia: Who would you like to bring because you are the Chief of Bureau here.. so who would you like to bring? Ganapathy: Is it also going to be tomorrow? Niira Radia: Nahi nahin (No, no) on Thursday.
Ganapathy: What time will we meet, roughly? Niira Radia: I am hoping in the afternoon at about 3 o'clock.
Ganapathy: Sure, sure. Let me find out tomorrow and tell you how it can work out.. Niira Radia: Because the ET Now bureau in Bombay will be briefed haan. So I don't want them to be briefed and you are not briefed.
Ganapathy: Yeah I know. Niira Radia: I'm gonna do that. So I'm gonna put that in the schedule tomorrow or day after.
Ganapathy: Okay. So what I will now do is.. in the next 15-20 minutes I will quickly speak to the people concerned. Niira Radia: Call me back and let me look at the itinerary of Manoj Modi in the meantime...and just see which timings I can slot you.. because you have to tell me who you want to bring along with you.
Ganapathy: Sure sure... Niira Radia: It's completely off the record. And I'll be at the Chambers. Ganapathy: Of course, of course, without a doubt. Niira Radia: And it'll be at the Chambers. Ganapathy: Ok fine, now I'll - (Tape ends)