NEW DELHI: Ticking off the ever controversial Subramanian Swamy for questioning RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan’s patriotism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the attacks were “inappropriate” and vouched for Rajan’s commitment to India.
Calling Rajan “no less patriotic”, the PM severely criticised Swamy by saying: “if anybody considers himself above the system then it is wrong”.
In an interview to a private news channel on Monday, the PM also criticised Swamy for creating unnecessary controversies. “Whether it is in my party or not, 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 said.
“My experience with him has been good and I appreciate the work that he has done. 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 Swamy’s attack that Rajan was not mentally fully Indian.
World is with India
Justifying his Lahore visit and his telephonic conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, Modi said that “Pakistan is finding it difficult to give answers for its policies on the global stage due to these actions.”
“The world is standing with India with regards to our policy on Pakistan. Had we created obstacles in the talks, the world would have questioned us. Now everyone is asking Pakistan, and Pakistan is finding it increasingly difficult to give answers.
On the issue of terrorism, the Prime Minister said, “Till now everyone did not take the terrorism problem that India was facing seriously. They used to pass it off as a law and order issue. Now the world has recognised that India is suffering from the issue of terrorism, that is a big achievement and we have to move forward on this.” Modi also emphasised his fight against black money.