Ex Trai chief lashes out on CBI, politicians for 2G scam

Pradip Baijal's (pictures below)latest self-published book has brought alive the politics of the time when telecom minister ruled the turf and even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could not afford to ignore his wishes.

While the clash between Baijal, then chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), and Maran had for long played out in the open on issues such as whether to reduce the access deficit charge (a fee paid by private operators to subsidise BSNL's rural calls), the timing of the book The Complete Story of Indian Reforms: 2G, Power and Private Enterprise-A Practitioner's Diary has come under question.

Excerpts from the book, alleging that Singh had asked Baijal to cooperate with Maran since non-cooperation could compromise his government, surfaced just when the National Democratic Alliance government was celebrating its first year in office.

The 1966 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer has written that Maran warned him of serious consequences if he issued unified licensing recommendations despite being told not to, and that Singh went along, a claim that is damning for the United Progressive Alliance and yet another talking point for the NDA.

Baijal, who lost his father at a young age and was brought up by his mother, had modest beginnings. As a bureaucrat, he was known to be efficient and blunt, though a contemporary once called him "ambitious''.

Baijal has said he was hounded and harassed during the UPA government. Indeed, he was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for his role in the 2G spectrum scam, but he was let off without any charges.

He was also questioned on the sale of Laxmi Vilas hotel by the government when Arun Shourie was disinvestment minister and Baijal the disinvestment secretary.

Incidentally, Baijal came into prominence at this time as he led the initiative to sell the government's stake in companies such as Videsh Sanchar Nigam and Maruti.

It's interesting that Baijal's tone on Maran was milder earlier, though the war was clear.

In an interview just before he retired as Trai chairman in 2006, Baijal had said, "He (Maran) has his place and I have mine." Much has passed since then, including his tie-up with Niira Radia to start Noesis Strategic Consulting Company.

Baijal says he has evidence to prove what he has alleged in his book, which mentions he was targeted by the CBI in the 2G scam because he did not implicate former minister Arun Shourie and industrialist Ratan Tata.

According to him, Ratan Tata had told him that Maran wanted him to merge Tata Sky with Sun TV, a TV channel promoted by his brother Kalanidhi Maran.

Baijal still likes to talk about his contribution to boosting teledensity of India. But more important for him is to tell his peers and colleagues that "I am not a thief''.

While the truth of the book is not known, it is a fact that Baijal was in a hurry to see it in print as he self-published it. At least one leading publisher refused to touch it.