N K Singh, too, talks ill of Nath

While Das virtually said the minister could make “15 per cent” while doing the “national service,” the former IAS officer suggests to Radia that Nath has been “shown his place” for his alleged wrongdoing in UPA I. The purported conversation took place soon after the swearing-in ceremony of ministers in 2009.

The “Outlook” magazine website, which has carried the tape, quoted Singh as telling Radia: "Spectacular decline of Kamal Nath and to make matters worse even shipping has been taken away.... He is literally on the road.... I think that a lot of the stuff which you and I know was going on somehow got noticed and reported and in some ways supposed to give a signal that perhaps it has been overdone. I mean, whatever. I think in Kamal Nath's case it is a clear indication that enough is enough and I don't think right now he needs another ATM. He has one going for many years. There is enough for him."
Singh goes on to say that Petroleum Minister Murli Deora is incompetent. He says, “Jitin Prasada (minister of state for petroleum)has got it good because you see...the incompetence of Murli is proverbial. Every time a question comes up in any House of Parliament he is more busy trying to appease the questioner to see if he can stay out. I think that perhaps Mukesh (Ambani) has swung it for him...the continuity in the Petroleum Ministry. But Murli is an incompetent minister. He may be a good man. That's the other comment I have.”

In his talk with Radia, Tarun Das says that he had suggested Kamal Nath's name for the Surface Transport Ministry. As for Nath’s successor in the Commerce and Industry Ministry— Anand Sharma— he says, “Industry is a new area for Anand Sharma and that they would have to educate and brief him”.

He also speaks about talking to Montek Singh Ahluwalia (Planning Commission Deputy Chairman) about exiting the CII and that he would speak to the PM about it because Montek wants him to. Radia tells Tarun Das that Ratan Tata was very worried about Dayanidhi Maran taking over telecom, but is very happy now that A Raja has come in.
In a brief conversation with Raja, Radia indicates that her phone was being tapped. After asking him whether he can speak over land line, Raja asks her to call from her Tata phone. “This phone is OK, naa” asks Radia. Raja replies, “This one is fine, it’s not in my name”.