PM Modi rebukes Subramanian Swamy: Breaking party line, seeking publicity wrong
Rebuking Subramanian Swamy for his attacks on Arun Jaitley and Raghuram Rajan, Modi said, 'No one is bigger than the party. If someone is making comments to seek publicity it is wrong. I am very clear about this.'
In Short
- Modi warned BJP leaders from breaking the party line & seeking publicity.
- Rebuking Subramanian Swamy
- Modi said "No one is bigger than the party."
- Modi made it clear that he does not agree with how Swamy has been attacking Jaitley.
In remarks clearly aimed at Subramanian Swamy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today warned the BJP leaders from breaking the party line and seeking publicity.
Rebuking the controversial Rajya Sabha MP for his attacks on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, Modi said, "No one is bigger than the party. If someone is making comments to seek publicity it is wrong. I am very clear about this."
Modi made the statement when he was specifically asked on the controversy over Rajan's removal from the RBI and Swamy's continued barbs against Jaitley and senior officers in the Finance Ministry.
RAJAN 'NO LESS PATRIOTIC'
Calling Rajan "no less patriotic", he virtually ticked off Swamy saying "if anybody considers himself above the system then it is wrong".
"It is wrong to say that Rajan is less patriotic than us. It will also be unfair to say that he will not work for India's interests. I am sure wherever he works or whichever post he holds, Rajan will continue to serve India," the prime minister said.
The Prime Minister made it clear that he does not agree with the manner in which Swamy has been going about attacking the Finance Ministry officials or his outbursts against Jaitley.
"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 Times Now.
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.
In a related development, Jaitley, who cut short his visit to China by a day and returned to New Delhi last night, is likely to meet PM Modi tomorrow evening, where he is expected to raise the issue of Swamy's statements against him.