What PM said on Swamy episode is advisory, not action: Cong

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Jun 28 2016 | 8:58 PM IST
Congress today dismissed suggestions that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had pulled up BJP MP Subramanian Swamy for attacks on RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan and some top finance ministry officials, remarking "a stubborn person will never accept logic".
"Whatever the Prime Minister has said in the matter is at best an advisory and not an action. An action means dismissal, expulsion, suspension," Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters.
He then cited a Hindi saying "lato ke bhoot baton se nahi mante" meaning a "stubborn person will never accept logic".
In an interview to Times Now, Prime Minister had described as "inappropriate" the attack on Rajan.
Calling Rajan "no less patriotic", he had virtually ticked off Swamy saying, "If anybody considers himself above the system then it is wrong."
The Prime Minister's comments assume significance in the context of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the BJP distancing themselves from Swamy's recent attacks on Rajan, CEA Arvind Subramananian and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das.
Swamy also had made some carping comments about Jaitley without taking his name.
Azad also wondered over the Prime Minister's remarks that he was not aware of the people who were making attempts at polarisation through their controversial statements and had instead blamed the media for turning hardliners into heroes.
"Modiji claimed that he doesn't know people who make such statements. Does that mean he doesn't know BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj? Does Modi ji not know his Minister Mahesh Sharma? Does the PM not know his own MPs and ministers?"
Noting that this is called, "Pot calling the kettle black" , Azad felt what Modi is basically saying is not to report these issues. "Be blind to them."
He accused the Prime Minister of doing precious little to stop the attempts at polarisation despite the issue being raised in Parliament several times.
The Congress leader mocked Modi of turning into an "old and weak lion" two years in office saying his interview showed him "defensive" for the first time and also one who is "not decisive". He said that it was a "very disappointing" interview.
He recalled that Modi in the Lok Sabha poll campaign had strode like a "lion".
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 28 2016 | 8:58 PM IST

Next Story