Radia Tapes: (20090619-105618) Radia, Manoj Warrier

Duration: 00:03:13; Aspect Ratio: 1.250:1; Lightness: 0.059; Volume: 0.190; Cuts per Minute: 5.589; Words per Minute: 183.495

Manoj Warrier, Niira's business associate, gives her the low-down on his chat with Reliance's PMS Prasad. On the matter of raging rumours about a settlement between the Ambani brothers, Warrier reports what Prasad says happened in a conversation with Petroleum Minister Murli Deora - that the news about the Ambani brothers arriving at a settlement out-of-court was leaked by Deora ("too much pressure is being built") in order to "deflect" the media's attention from the real matter-the dividing up of resources including gas. Manoj Warier says: "I (PMS Prasad) was sitting with him (Deora) and he (Deora) said that you know there is too much pressure being built so let me deflect it, let me say, 'settlement'."
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Manoj: Can you talk now? Or you getting ready. You getting ready or can you talk now?

Nira: Hello?

Manoj: Can you talk now or are you getting ready?

Nira: I'm getting ready but go you can carry on talking. (phone ringing in the background)

Manoj: Arre then you call me from the car na.

Nira: No no go on go on go on...you are on loud speaker phone.

Manoj: Ohk, theek hai (alright).

Nira: Hun...

Manoj: Uhhhh...Prasad had called me...

Nira: Haan (Yes)

Manoj:...he was basically saying woh ET ka story (That ET story), you know...uuuh...uh... you should tell Soma or Rajesh that they cannot buy fertilizer or power plants because existing...

Nira: They can't what?

Manoj:...they can't be buying existing fertilizer or powerplants because that... those paaaa.. assets are passed through, fuel cost is passed through so there's no benefit to be derived for them because of aaaa lower fuel cost....
(pause)

Nira: I don't understand Manoj, sorry, come again.

Manoj: Nai Nai (No No), these assssets...

Nira: Haan (Ya)

Manoj: ...they have thier fuel costs as pass through...

Nira: Who, the fertilizer plants?

Manoj: Yes...

Nira: Haan (Ya)

Manoj: ...which means if I use seven rupees ka fuel or two rupees ka fuel (fuel seven rupees or two rupees) it has to be passed through...

Nira: Haan (Ya)

Manoj: ... to the customer, so it doesn't make a difference as far as what is the price of fuel I'm buying it at.

Nira: Right.

Manoj: So he is saying that there is no benefit to be derived out of them acquiring any such existing asset. You should sensitise Soma oaa and Rajeev to the same.

Nira: But what is the assets that they are acquiring?

Manoj: No no, they are saying that they may be, they can acquire, theoretically they can acquire fertilizer plants to have consumed this gas. There are...the other point is that there are no assets that are available in the market for them to acquire which is a contestable point cause because assets ... and if you pay obscene prices any asset will be aba.. available to you.

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Nira: No, what you are saying is ADAG is gonna attempt to get...buy fertilizer plants, right?

Manoj: Fertilizer or power plants...

Nira: Haan... (Ya...)

Manoj: ...existing...so that they can consume this gas.

Nira: Hmm...

Manoj: ...so that way. The other is, then he said that, 'You know we should tighten our intelligence a little more... you know this entire settlement story, you know where it is coming from? Murli Deora has given this story. I was sitting with him and he said that you know there is too much pressure being built so let me deflect it let me say settlement.' So i told him, 'Uncle, kyun kar rahe ho aap aise? (Why are you doing this?)'.

Manoj: So he said, 'No no, there is too much pressure being built, so let the media get diverted a little.' I said I'm not, I'm, sir I'm not sure whether aaa...I mean I'm sure that is true but I also can tell you that YP Trivedi has been talking saying that he's going to aa ask Mukesh to look into how he can settle this issue. So he said ok. Then he said that, 'You know Amitabh Jhunjhunwala and Chalsani are not talking to the press. Aaa.. Amitabh is away in the US and Chalsani is somewhere in Vijaywada on a holiday...'

Nira: Chalsani is...?

Manoj: Away in aa ..

Nira: Is where?

Manoj: Vijaywada on a holiday...

Nira: Manoj?

Manoj: Hm.

Nira: Hello?

Manoj: Can you hear me?

Nira: Haan. Chalsani is where?

Manoj: In Vijaywada on a holiday. (voice raised)

Nira: Hello Manoj?

Manoj: Hellooo...

Nira: Helloo

Manoj: Hello hello hello...

(Sound of phone being placed back in receiver)

(Tape ends)

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