Washington: Brushing aside as “speculation” that he has differences with the leaders of BJP, speculated to form the next government, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan said they are “media invention”.
“On differences with the new government, I haven’t had any discussion with the new government. I think its all press invented difference. I think it should be seen as speculation rather than any actual differences,” he said while commenting on reported differences with the BJP leaders.
Dr Rajan’s comment comes against the backdrop of certain BJP leaders questioning his policies to deal with the current economic woes.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is reported to have said, “We can make it worthwhile for him (Raghuram Rajan) to leave.”
Expressing similar opinion BJP treasurer Piyush Goyal attacked Rajan over a series of interest rate hikes intended to curb inflation, now at double the RBI’s longer-term 4 per cent target, at a time when economic growth has fallen to its slowest in a decade. During the 7-month stint, he has raised key policy rate thrice by 0.25 per cent each.
Dr Rajan was appointed RBI governor in September 2013 by Congress led UPA.
