Swamy unfazed, keeps up attack on CEA

This comes a day after the government came out in strong defence of Arvind Subramanian.

Subramanian Swamy. File photo.

BJP’s Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy on Thursday continued his tirade against Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian, ignoring the NDA government’s counsel about his attacks against officials.

Another top officer in the Finance Ministry — Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das — also came in for flak, with Dr. Swamy accusing him of assisting former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in a land deal.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is in China on an official visit, responded on Twitter to Dr. Swamy’s comments.

“An unfair and false attack on a disciplined civil servant in the Finance Ministry,” the Minister tweeted, without mentioning names.

Dr. Swamy persisted with his remarks even after the BJP on Wednesday distanced itself from his demand that the CEA be sacked, saying the party did not agree with him, and that he was voicing his personal opinion.

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

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) >June 23, 2016

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 !

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) >June 23, 2016

“Who said: ‘What about Gujarat? Mr. Modi stands indicted as a mediocre performer (judged by tax collection & social outcomes)’...AS in BS 23/1/13,” Dr. Swamy tweeted.

He alleged that the CEA had testified before the U.S. Congress, seeking that the Washington pressure New Delhi and then only U.S. trade will benefit. “He was working with Pfizer’s research institute and was batting for the U.S. drug companies earlier,” Dr. Swamy wrote on Twitter.

Earlier, keeping up his criticism of Dr. Subrmanian, he 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”.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Dr. Swamy dismissed advice from the party and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. “Let him say what he wants... I have nothing to do with what Jaitley says. I can talk to the party President or the Prime Minister,” he said.

On Wednesday, Mr. Jaitley debunked Dr. Swamy’s call for firing Dr. Subramanian. “Government has full confidence in CEA. His advice to government from time to time has been of great value,” the Minister said.