Jairam Ramesh: Well, I haven’t changed
that often as you think. Basically, it has revolved around government.
Also, it is important to renew oneself every once in a while with a
new set of challenges. Politics is tricky and risky. I have been on
the periphery for seven years but now I am in it full time. It is exciting
and full of potholes. But if you want to change politics, then I believe
the best course is to take the plunge. There will be ups and downs,
more downs perhaps.

Hari: Sir how much financial loss will India suffer after these
elections?? And is it right for the tax payers to suffer like this?

Jairam Ramesh: These elections would
cost about Rs 700 crores. In a parliamentary democracy elections are
the only way of establishing the will of the people. There is no point
trying to cobble together unnatural alliances. Elections are expensive
but they are the necessary price to be paid for keeping our democracy
going. Democracy doesn’t come cheap. Frequent elections should be avoided
but don’t forget that the verdict of 1996 was itself a fractured verdict.
If the Congress had not supported the United Front government in May
1996 then elections would have had to held in July-August 1996 itself.

C Mitra: What is your contribution to the Congress manifesto?
Was it your baby?

Jairam Ramesh:
The manifesto was a collective effort but the Libretto on which
it was prepared was mine. The ideas came from people like Dr Manmohan
Singh.

Ajay: What is your view about apple growers in Himachal?

Jairam Ramesh:
I think the reforms are headed in the right direction but they need
to be speeded up considerably. We must bring privatisation on the agenda.
Our opening up to the world is also a bit cautious. But there is generally
a consensus on reforms. Where there is no consensus is on fiscal discipline.
Most Indian politicians and intellectuals think that you can have reforms
in an environment of fiscal profligacy. This is a recipe for disaster.
Don’t that a 14 party UF government gave a significant push to reforms.
Frankly I am worried about the BJP.

Shankar: Rs 700 crores with NO GUARANTEE OF A STABLE GOVERNMENT
but we all know about the dissidents and CRIMINALS Who have entered
all the THREE POLITICAL FRONTS………..HOW do you justify this carnage
of DEMOCRACY??

Jairam Ramesh:
My advice to you is to do something about this carnage. Give
up your security and join politics and try to make a difference.

Bidyut Ganguly: People like you can never make a difference in
politics. You are bright. You are an Iyer and you are south Indian.
I fear you will end up like good old Mani Shankar Aiyar.

Jairam Ramesh:
Time alone will tell. Politics is basically a market place for
ideas and if you are able to influence ideas then you do make a difference.
My friend Mani has made a difference. If it were not for him this whole
business of panchayats would have died. There are no quick solutions;
you have to be patient and persevere.

Anita: Will you justify the stance taken by the Congress high
command for not giving a ticket to former prime minister, P V Narasimha
Rao? After all, he was the one who gave full support to Manmohan Singh
and your reforms. PLEASE COMMENT????

Jairam Ramesh: Economic reforms
are not all. I feel sorry for Mr Rao. He accomplished a lot. But he
bears the Babri cross and he was indifferent to mounting corruption.
He started off as a Bhismapithamaha, became Dhithirashtra in the middle
and ended up as Shakuni.

SK Iyer: Who was the better FM? Dr Singh or Mr Chidambaram, and
why?

Jairam Ramesh: A lot of you have
asked for a comparison of Mr C and Dr M. Dr M is an economist and Mr.
C is an economic administrator. Dr M is basically a thinker and a conceptualiser.
Mr C is a manager. Dr M is a gentle persuader. Mr C is a bull in a china
shop but in a nice way. Dr M prefers consensus while Mr C is more impatient.
But both complement each other. They are not mutually exclusive.

Swiss Miss: Mr Jairam, are you a doctorate in Spin?Or better
spinster? (hope not sinister)

Jairam Ramesh: I am impressed with
your persistence. If you are really a Miss my e-mail address or should
I say e-female address is [email protected] Let’s keep in
touch.

Energy: Mr Ramesh, Most intellectuals and professionals have
joined the BJP. Do you intend to follow the suit, should the BJP come
to power?

Jairam Ramesh: I rejoined the Congress
when people were leaving it. My friends described me as the only rat
who went into a sinking ship! NO. I’ll not join the BJP. Although I
can understand the fascination of the middle class intellectuals with
the BJP. It reminds me of the Germany of the 1930s.

RR: What exactly are the Congress’s credentials as a liberaliser
? Despite all the hype about Dr Manmohan Singh, don’t you think only
the BoP crisis forced traditional Congressmen (ministers) to accept
IMF conditionalities? As soon as as the crisis passed, Dr Manmohan Singh
was only allowed to fiddle with interest rates and the Congress went
back to its usual patronage politics/economics?

Jairam Ramesh: Yes, initially compulsion
dictated change in 1991. But soon compulsion gave way to conviction.
Compulsion can start something, but only conviction can sustain it.
There is a change in the mindset in India today. And this is Dr Manmohan
Singh’s greatest contribution.

A B Shenoy: How can you call Mr Kesri your leader? How can you
genuflect to someone so obviously venal, without political morals?

Jairam Ramesh:
Mr Kesri is not a PLU — that is a person like us. But don’t
forget that he is more representative of India than either you or me.
And one thing his worse critics have not accused him of is venality.
And for your information nobody genuflects to him.

Jairam Ramesh: The Congress is very
weak in UP and Bihar, which together account for 139 seats. But I am
hopeful that there would be a substantial improvement on its 1996 tally.

Jairam Ramesh: Thank You for this
opportunity. Hope we can stay in touch. I enjoyed this hope you did
too.