Defying BJP seniors, Swamy attacks Rajan again

A day after BJP president Amit Shah distanced the party from direct attacks on the RBI governor, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy again sought immediate sacking of Raghuram Rajan accusing him of leaking confidential and sensitive financial information abroad.  

Stepping up his attack against the governor, Swamy levelled six charges, which he claimed were “prima facie true”, in a fresh letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

When BJP president Amit Shah was asked whether Swamy's demand for ouster of Rajan reflected the party's view, he replied, "What I say is the party's line".

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also said he does not approve of attacks on the RBI Governor. "I don't approve of personal comments against anyone, let alone the RBI Governor," he commented when his views were sought on the relentless targeting of Rajan by Swamy.

Against the backdrop of Swamy’s accusation that Rajan was "mentally not fully Indian" and kept interest high to "wilfully" wreck the economy, Jaitley said, "one can agree or disagree with their judgment, but that's a debate on issues. But I don't think we should allow a public discourse where instead of debate on issues we concentrate on debate on persons".