Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday disapproved of recent attacks on RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and some top Finance Ministry officials, saying they are “inappropriate”. He said Mr. Rajan was ‘no less patriotic.’
The Prime Minister’s comments assume significance in the context of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the BJP distancing themselves from party > MP Subramanian Swamy’s recent attacks on Mr. Rajan, Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramananian and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das. Dr.Swamy also reportedly made some comments against Mr.Jaitley without taking his name.
'People should conduct themselves with responsibility'
“Whether it is in my party or not, still I think such things are inappropriate. This fondness for publicity is never going to do any good to the nation. People should conduct themselves with utmost responsibility. If anybody considers himself above the system, it is wrong,” the Prime Minister told TV channel Times Now.
Without taking the name of Dr.Swamy, Mr. Modi was asked about the comments of “your Rajya Sabha MP” in the context of Mr.Rajan and that whether it was appropriate, especially in the light of Mr.Modi’s recent counsel to party leaders in Allahabad to maintain balance and restraint in their speech and conduct. “My message is very clear. I have no confusion about it,” Mr.Modi said when he was asked whether his message on the issue is clear.
Mr.Modi then went on to praise Mr.Rajan, >who had said no to a second term in RBI. He said the RBI Governor's patriotism was no less and was sure that Mr. Rajan would continue to serve India irrespective of whether he was in some position or not.
“My experience with him has been good and I appreciate the work he has done. It is wrong to say that Mr.Rajan is less patriotic than us. It will also be unfair to say that he will not work for India’s interests. He is no less patriotic. He loves India. Wherever he will work, he will work for India and he is patriotic,” he said in an apparent riposte to Dr.Swamy’s attack that Mr. Rajan was not ‘fully Indian.’
Referring to apprehensions whether Mr.Rajan would be allowed to complete his term, the Prime Minister said though he was appointed by the previous UPA government, Mr.Rajan would be completing his term.
Asked about reports and apprehensions that Mr.Rajan’s exit would affect the image of Indian economy abroad and whether it would harm investment, Mr.Modi said if one recalled the media reports after he took over in 2014, there were a number of articles written on whether Mr.Rajan would be allowed to continue in the post. “They said I would not allow him to continue [as RBI Governor]. So it was proved wrong.”
India's stand on terrorism
The Prime Minsiter said that because of his consistent efforts like the visit to Lahore or inviting the Pakistan Prime Minister to India, he no longer has to convince the world about India’s stand on terrorism. “The world in one voice is praising India’s role.Pakistan is finding it difficult to answer. The world is watching. If we remain an obstacle then we will have to convince the world that we are not like this."
