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Subramanian Swamy takes on government over GDP data

BJP firebrand leader Subramanian Swamy is at it again. This time, he has targeted his own government by questioning the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data.

Subramanian Swamy Subramanian Swamy

New Delhi: BJP firebrand leader Subramanian Swamy is at it again. This time, he has targeted his own government by questioning the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data.

Voicing his dissenting views on the government’s GDP claims, Swamy said that if “he revealed the real growth figures, it will not go down well with the party”.

“If I apply Samuelson-Swamy Theory of Index Numbers to India’s GDP calculation or RBI interests rates, media will scream anti party activity!” the Rajya Sabha MP said in a clear dig at the GDP growth data.

It should be noted that the country’s new GDP data calculation methodology has already come under criticism from various analysts and economists for not projecting a true picture of growth.

Swamy’s latest barb comes against the backdrop of clear indications from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that attacks on BJP leadership will not be tolerated.

Swamy, who was made a Rajya Sabha MP two months ago, has come under fire for taking unapologetic swipes at BJP bigwigs including Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Last month, Swamy had openly attacked at Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das, forcing Jaitley to defend his Ministry’s staff. Before this, he had targeted RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, calling him ‘mentally not fully Indian’.