'Attention seeking, classist': Vadra, Swamy battle it out over 'coat, tie' remark

New Delhi: BJP’s problem child Subramanian Swamy has earned reprimand from an unlikely source after comparing Indian politicians in western wear to waiters.

Reacting to the Harvard economist’s call to clad the political class in ‘desi’ attire, Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, Robert Vadra, hit out at Swamy in a Facebook post accusing him of being an 'attention seeker and a classist' snob. The businessman ranted that the comment undermined the dignity of a waiter's job.

“So is there no dignity in being a Waiter?! The attention seeking BJP MP Swamy's comment ‘Ministers who wear a coat and tie look like waiters and must be instructed to wear Indian clothes.’ Undermining waiters who work hard for a living; making condescending and derogatory remarks about them is deplorable and classist...”

But responding to Vadra’s comments, Swamy said, “I think Mr Vadra should concentrate on staying out of jail and not comment on political issues.”

BJP leader Subramanian Swami tweeted: "BJP should direct our ministers to wear traditional and modernised Indian clothes while abroad. In coat and tie, they look like waiters".

Media mills went overboard implicating that Swamy’s comments were aimed at Arun Jaitley.

Swamy has been critical of the Finance Minister and has mounted attacks on Jaitley over past week.

Asked about the reported unhappiness of the BJP leadership over his consistent tirade against Jaitley and his ministry's officials, he said, "That is what your press is saying. I don't know."