None in the govt took my calls; I felt like an outcast: Pradip Baijal

Interview with Ex-chairman, Trai

Days after his self-published book,  ‘The complete story of Indian reforms: 2G, power and private enterprise-a  practitioner’s diary’ came into the public domain, Pradip Baijal, former chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), spoke to Nivedita Mookerji on what made him write it and some of the controversial content. Edited excerpts from an e-mail interview:

After your latest book was published, has former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoken to you or sent across any message to you? If yes, what did he have to say?

No, he has not.

Your book talks about the former PM (Singh) telling you to cooperate with then telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran. Did the warning come directly from Manmohan Singh or through any other person in the government of that time?

Maran warned me. The former PM later told me I must listen to my minister; else, I might get into trouble. I told him that if I listen, there would be a scam which no one will be able to handle. That did happen after I left and no one was able to handle it, despite all the diversionary tactics I have described in chapter 13 of the book.

Didn’t you think of making these disclosures earlier? What stopped you from doing so?

I could not have done that. The UPA (coalition government) was harassing me and the telecom inquiry was going on and on, despite my full explanation of the issue very early during the probe, and also Trai’s affidavit in Supreme Court. I started writing the book in early 2014. Unfortunately, I had to undergo quadruple, seven blockage bypasses and was recouping for three months. Thereafter, I e-published Part I in March and the full book in late April this year. After the excerpts were published from the book in May, everyone started questioning me.  

Did you have to confront politicians and bureaucrats, when you say you were “hounded”?

I was investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation and Joint Parliamentary Committee. None in the government took my calls. I felt like an outcast.  

Do you have any regret, now that you have made the disclosures?

I was harassed for four years and discredited by the provenly false cases. Intensive propaganda on so-called wrongdoings was also done. All this false propaganda was weighing on my mind, so I had to disclose the facts before everyone, to prove my credibility. Once I did this, a huge load came off my head.

Why do you think Dr Singh wanted you to cooperate on matters that were unethical and not right? What is your assessment?

Please read the facts given in the book. I cannot assess.

What has been the overall response to your book from current bureaucrats, former bureaucrats, politicians, business leaders and the media?

I do not know and cannot assess. The media response was intense.

Is there anything more you wanted to write but held back? If yes, is there another book coming?

I would not like to close my options. At present, the answer is no.

What is your state of mind now, after the book? Are you happy or disappointed and angry?

The last four years of the UPA-II government were a  bitter experience, when my own seniors in the government lodged forged inquiries against me. Having narrated the truth, I am now very happy.

What would you say have been the biggest achievements for you as a bureaucrat and then as Trai chairman? And, the biggest disappointment?

I cannot judge; others can. Telecom regulation achieved a lot for the country, as accepted internationally, and explained in the book. There has never been such telecom growth in any country, and our growth in some periods was three times that of China. That was a great satisfaction. The biggest disappointment is the inquiries I had to face, after implementing the impossible tasks in telecom and disinvestment.