Under fire Subramanian Swamy fires fresh salvo, says RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan was Congress' agent

Noida: Shrugging off cries of outrage and allegations from the opposition holding him responsible for RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan`s decision to not continue with his post, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday asserted that he did not care what the others said, as Rajan was the government`s employee, adding that he was a Congress `agent` bent on sabotaging the Indian economy.

Speaking to ANI here, Swamy said that Rajan`s decision only proved what he had always suspected, that the RBI Governor had been working in tandem with the Congress as their `agent` since the BJP-led Centre came to power.

"He sabotaged our economy by trying to put all the small, medium industries out of business. And as you know the small and medium industries give employment to the semi-skilled workers, who come from agricultural sectors and poor rural areas," Swamy said.

He further alleged that Rajan had the complete support of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and other 'sycophants' to sabotage the economy as he was an agent of the grand old party.

"I could not earlier say that he was an agent. Now after Rahul`s remarks, I can say that he was a saboteur in our government. Who cares what the opposition says, he was our employee and we sent him home. This is not a popularity contest," Swamy added.He also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for `withstanding international and media pressure` and for standing his ground and declining a second term to Rajan.

Following Rajan's announcement, Rahul Gandhi took a shot at the Centre saying that Prime Minister Modi did not need experts like Rajan since he already knew 'everything'.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi knows everything. He has no need for experts like Raghuram Rajan," Rahul said in a series of tweets.Asserting that it was people like him who made India great, Rahul thanked Rajan for steering the Indian economy in difficult times.

Meanwhile, expressing disappointment over Rajan`s decision former home minister P. Chidambaram asserted that this was clearly India`s loss and lashed out at the Centre for inviting this development.

"I am disappointed and profoundly saddened by the decision of Dr Raghuram Rajan to leave the RBI on completion of his term on September 4, 2016, but I hasten to add that I am not surprised at all," Chidambaram said in a statement.

Rajan announced that he would return to the academic world at the end of his term on September 4, 2016, adding he will always be available to serve his country when needed and asserted that his 'successor' would take the nation to new heights.

Rajan is currently on leave from the Chicago Booth School of Business where he holds the post of Distinguished Service Professor of Finance.Swamy, who has been one of the chief critics of Rajan, welcomed the latter`s decision and said that he was not even getting a second term in the first place.

Swamy also told ANI that Rajan made this decision in order to save his self respect.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the Centre respected Rajan's decision and appreciated the 'good work' done by him, adding that his successor would be announced 'shortly'.