The Rabri-Radia Tapes Part 1 by Puneet Rajhans

The Rabri-Radia Tapes Part 1

Tapping the unimaginable potential the Indian polity offered, one Rabri and other Radia rose in the corridors of power in close proximity to each other and had their dramatic exit coincidentally at the same time. The much awaited Rabri-Radia tapes are not out in the public domain. What is out is the full text of the conversation between Radia at one end and Uchi Udan Ka Fakir and Bak Bak Bakra at the other. Though she has attempted to open up to a large number of other speakers (the list grows wider as dates of this Parliament session coming to an end approaches) but the prominent one is the tête-à-tête with one Fakir and other Bakra. What they are exchanging are the greetings they exchanged with others and the response these greetings generated.

A quick fix solution to the dilemmas they face in their less probed life and a man reverentially adored as Aaj Ka Raja about whom they were extremely confident that he could size up to the big responsibility that lay ahead in the telecom minefield. Well the tone of the conversation do convey the actors other than this Raja to be no less than Kings and Queens for their audacity to determine the strength of PM's Cabinet and who all would make the cut. THe Aaj Ka Raja was the man they were absolutely sure to be the best cure for the fledgling ailing Telecom Ministry by the more than available record to keep his Ministry clean and tidy by offering first come first seize opportunity rather than going through the cumbersome process of tendering and bickering. As the conversations suggest the all important office of Lobbyist Out To Litter that Radia presides over, the journos have been told to dispel the myth that they are mere column writers and debate moderators. There is this Radia prodding the journos to come out of their shell and show their expertise that they silently and swiftly developed to be appropriately applied in the corridors of power. THe expertise to secure one's comeback and ensure the exit of others.

When this Radia came out after long questioning by ED, she looked as fresh as in the morning given the rounds of questioning that she had been subjected to ever since she declared her fascination for the role of a Lobbyist. Image in tatters was the least she cared for as she was bent on raising the image of the Houses she represented including the one occupied by her and extended members. Calling out the likes of Fakir and Bakra to step beyond their line of duty and they knowingly doing it in exchange for what that is yet to be established, the image of the duo lies in tatters but not tottering enough for their employers to take note of.
As this Radia had been divested of all portfolios, the first to be divested was A Raja followed by B Chavan and C Rosaiah, her complete interest lay in seeing the duo journos to be divested of their overburdened responsibility. But since that was not happening she issued a one line statement. "Mind you these journos would continue with column writing and debate hosting but this exercise would lack punch and strong conviction of the past."
Some days later post questioning and press briefing, Radia reached out to Rabri and spoke her heart. This round of conversation between this Radia and that Rabri was again tapped indicating the strong bond the two shared. Both spoke in chaste Hindi on how from nowhere they were pole vaulted to be in the thick of business and political action and agitation. The number of times they had sacrificed their personal commitments to work for their fodder and fanatically raised bosses who had set fantastic goals for themselves. So has been the dramatic fall one triggered by poll surveys and other triggered by in-house surveys on her probability to exist when the conversation was out in the open.

The tapped conversation had its high point with Radia blaming the Bibani and Bata for trying to play big resulting in her downfall and Rabri out and out blaming Bihar neglected Lalu for her sudden ascent and dramatic descent. The two agreed to meet again and exchange notes. But the dilemma of the Home Ministry was far from over. It still had to figure out the codes Rabri and Radia had exchanged during conversation that went beyond agreed time. And they called for officials from Bhalu and Bata headquarters to break the codes lest this conversation too finds mention in the public domain.
As for the journo duo they were apprehensive that repeated attempts were being made to get new shows and columns on board titled "We the slaves" "The bullet is fired from here" and "Counter Attack". The duo squarely blamed "The Last Sword" and "Neat Advocate" shows for their attempt to bring on board One Ram and One Arun and their expressed intent to clear the mess. The mess they saw it coming given the failing nature of the duo who had been engaging in these acts of overdue commitment for ages and it was now only that light could be shed on their expertise.

As for the aam janata, the feeling was the blame should be on those who employed them. More precisely the HR department which never gave them the brief to strictly stick to their job and take monthly incentives rather turning themselves to become message carrier boys and girls. This act of carrying messages could not be condoned howsoever important the recipient was. For the Moment, Dill Walo Ki Dilli had given them reprieve but for how long it would last would be difficult to spell out given the intransigent nature of their occupations and their untamed nature to stray and sing. They would again stray was the consensus.