'Transport ministry ATM for Nath'

In her conversation with Tarun Das, former president of Confederation of Indian Industry, the latter says he advised Nath to accept the ministry “since he could make his money and also serve the country”, “Outlook” said in a press release adding that there were reports at the time of allocation of portfolios in UPA-II that Nath was not happy with his berth.

“You can make your 15 per cent on this. You can do national service and also make money…You know what I mean..and really do something worthwhile.. because T R Baalu has sc..wed us for eight years”, “Outlook” quotes Das telling Radia. In response, Radia tells Das  “..this is still an ATM for Kamal Nath”.

In another conversation, then “Hindustan Times” editorial advisor Vir Sanghvi tells Radia on what he wrote in his column (on the tussle between the Ambani brothers on the gas sharing dispute).

According to “Outlook”, on June 20, 2009, the day before his column appeared in “HT”, Sanghvi says, “Wrote it. I’ve dressed it up as a piece about how public will not stand for resources being cornered, how we’re creating a new list of oligarchs…”

Nira Radia replies: “Very nice, lovely, thank you, Vir.” Sanghvi goes on to say, “It’s dressed up as a plea to Manmohan Singh, so it won’t look like an inter-Ambani battle except to people in the know”.