Jaitley defends. Swamy fires fresh salvo at Subramanian

The Congress described BJP leader Subramanian Swamy as the ‘undeclared spokesperson’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “A nominated member of Rajya Sabha with BJP’s backing has launched a scathing attack on the Chief Economic Advisor of the Prime Minister, Arvind Subramanian and has described him as an agent of US Pharma companies. But the Prime Minister has not uttered a word on this issue,” Congress spokesperson PL Punia said while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here. “Swamy has always attacked the political opponents and adversaries of the Prime Minister and Modi who has been speaking at length on various issues has never spoken on Swamy’s statements. This shows that Subramanian Swamy is an unofficial spokesperson of Prime Minister Modi,” Punia said, asserting that Swamy’s attacks on people have suited Modi. “Swamy is doing all this because he wants to be the country’s Finance Minister,” Punia said insisting that the primary target of Swamy’s attack is Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who had trained his guns on Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian on Wednesday and demanded his sacking, has again launched a scathing attack on the CEC through micro-blogging site twitter.

“AS to US Cong: US initiatives by discriminating against India companies and exporters will exert pressure on India to open up” AS 13/3/13 !. 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,” Swamy said in a series of tweets attacking the chief economic adviser on Thursday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Subramanian Swamy trained his guns on chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian, sending the Narendra Modi government scurrying from a boomerang it had launched on others and making many wonder who was guiding the so-called unguided missile.

Swamy, the one-man demolition squad who was rewarded with a Rajya Sabha berth, demanded that the government sack the other Subramanian, the Harvard-educated economist, for voicing ideas that were inimical to India’s interests.

The attack came at a time reports suggested that Subramanian had emerged as a key contender for the top post at the Reserve Bank of India after incumbent Raghuram Rajan announced his decision to return to academia in the US.

Rajan was also a target of Swamy, although speculation is rife that the political gadfly was either acting on behalf of sections of the RSS or at least enjoyed the protection of the Sangh.

Even before the dust had settled on the Rajan controversy, Swamy launched his acerbic attack against the chief economic adviser with a burst of tweets early this morning.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley came out in strong defence of his colleague. “The government has full confidence in the chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian. His advice to the government from time to time has been of great value,” the minister told a media conference after a cabinet meeting where a host of economic decisions were taken.

Jaitley also cautioned fellow politicians against making attacks against officials unable to publicly defend themselves because of civil service rules. “The party has said that they don’t share Dr Swamy’s view. I will also add one more fact that from a point of view of discipline of Indian politicians… to what extent should we attack those, the discipline and constraints of whose offices prevent them from responding. And this has happened more than once,” he said.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh poured oil into the fire by tweeting: “Target is Arun Jaitley, not Arvind Subramanian.” Jaitley refused to comment, asked if Swamy’s attack was actually being directed at him and his handling of the finance ministry’s bailiwick.

But Swamy struck again  springing a nationalist card. “I have never said I speak on behalf of BJP on AS (Arvind Subramanian), but as a nationalist shocked that a GoI (Government of India) person would urge US Cong to fix India,” Swamy tweeted.
Swamy found a willing ally in the Sangh fraternity. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch national joint convener, Ashwani Mahajan, tweeted: “Don’t u think there is enough reason to sack @arvind Subramanian?” and tagged Modi, Jaitley and commerce and industries minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Swamy’s tweets on Subramanian questioned his commitment to India by highlighting his pro-US stand on drug patent rights voiced three years ago.

“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!!!” Swamy tweeted. MoF stands for the ministry of finance.

Subramanian became the chief economic adviser to the Indian government only in October 2014.