Subramanian Swamy sticks to Arvind Subrmananian dismissal demand

BJP’s Subramanian Swamy on Thursday dismissed Union finance minister Arun Jaitley’s suggestion for restraint after he launched a tirade against government’s Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subrmananian and sought his dismissal. Earlier during the day, Dr Swamy said he would “suspend” the demand for Dr Subramanian’s sacking if the government considers him patriotic despite his attempts in the past of trying to twist India’s arm. Both the government and the BJP had distanced themselves from this statements against the economic adviser.

“If an Indian , held patriotic, can advise a foreign nation where he works, to twist India’s arm, is to be forgiven, then I suspend my demand.... A.S. (Arvind Subramanian) to US Cong: “US initiatives by discriminating against Indian companies and exporters will exert pressure on India to open up,” Dr Swamy tweeted.

However, when asked him about Mr Jaitley’s disapproval of his attack on Dr Subramanian, Mr Swamy said, “Let him say what he wants... I have nothing to do with what Mr Jaitley says. I can talk to the party president or the Prime Minister.”

Dr Swamy had on Wednesday sought Dr Subramanian’s sacking for allegedly taking anti-India stance when he was an IMF economist in Washington, prior to joining the finance ministry. Mr Jaitley had then debunked Dr Swamy’s demand saying “Government has full confidence in CEA. His advice to government from time to time has been of great value”.

Dr Subramanian was appointed CEA by the BJP government in October 2014 after his predecessor Raghuram Rajan moved to the RBI as governor in September 2013.

Dr Swamy further tweeted “If BJP Union govt says that we know all about AS but still he is an asset, then I will suspend my demand and wait for events to prove truth....Within a year after getting plum job in the Indian government especially since out of 1.25 billion we could not find any equal or better.”

Citing an example of Dr Subramanian’s public criticism of Modi, he tweeted, “Who said: ‘What about Gujarat Mr Modi stands indicted as a mediocre performer (judged by tax collection & social outcomes)’” and tweeted Dr Subramanian’s article writenn in 2013.

Dr Swamy said Dr Arvind Subramanian had given statements earlier, asking US Congress to pressurise India and then only US trade will benefit.