BJP claimed Swamy's remarks did not reflect the party's stand as Finance Ministry defended Subramanian’s appointment.
BJP claimed Swamy's remarks did not reflect the party's stand as Finance Ministry defended Subramanian’s appointment.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was reportedly taken aback by Subramanian Swamy’s latest salvo, fired at Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian.
According to a report, as Swamy demanded Subramanian’s sacking just a few days after concluding a volley of attacks on RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, the BJP sought to brush the matter under the carpet.
Read: After Rajan exit, Swamy wants Arvind Subramanian to be sacked
-"That's his opinion. We do not have to say anything,-" Gopal Krishna Agarwal, BJP spokesperson for economic issues, was quoted as saying.
-"This is his statement. You can ask him, he is an MP. Party has nothing to say on this,-" Agarwal added.
But another BJP member reportedly revealed the party’s unease over the matter. -"This is obviously not the official line of the party. If that was the case, he (Arvind Subramanian) would not be there. It is for the boss to really rein him in”.
The member added that the government and BJP did not need the public utterances of any member to decide the continuance of any functionary in his job.
The Finance Ministry on Wednesday defended Subramanian’s appointment, saying it knew of his stance on key issues like IPR before hand. The government had taken a considered view when it appointed the former IMF economist as CEA, sources in the ministry said.
But the BJP also seems to have put the onus of contradicting Swamy on Arvind Subramanian himself, according to the report.
Read: Finance Ministry officials defend Arvind Subramanian's appointment
Staying true to his promise of training guns on bureaucrats 'loyal' to the Congress, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday said that he wants Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian to be sacked, as he had badmouthed India in the international arena and also encouraged Congress to become rigid on their GST Bill clauses.
-"Who said to US Cong on 13/3/13 the US should act against India to defend US Pharmaceuticals interests Arvind Subramanian MoF !! Sack him!!! Guess who encouraged Congi to become rigid on GST clauses Jaitely's economic adviser Arvind Subramanian of Washington DC,-" he tweeted, setting off a new storm.
Swamy's attack comes in the wake of reports stating Arvind Subramanian being among the probable successors of Rajan as the country's central bank chief.
Read: Is Modi handing over Finance Ministry to Subramanian Swamy: Congress
Swamy tweeted, -"Now PTs (Patriotic Tweeples) can understand why our core economic sectors could not perform last two years. Trojan horses galore in MoF/Fin Institutions.-"
The senior BJP leader also said that he has a list of 27 people with him and he will 'fix' them soon.
This development comes days after Swamy announced that his next 'project' is to expose a group of bureaucrats loyal to Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
(This story originally appeared in the deccan Chronicle as may the case be)
