“People giving me unasked for advice of discipline and restraint don’t realise that if I disregard discipline there would be a bloodbath,” he tweeted in an obvious attack on finance minister Arun Jaitley.
People giving me unasked for advice of discipline and restraint don't realise that if I disregard discipline there would be a blood bath
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 24, 2016
Though he did not name Jaitley, Swamy was obviously referring to the minister urging him to be restrained in the wake of his attacks on chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian on Wednesday, and to his use of the word ‘discipline’ in defending economic affairs secretary Shaktikanta Das yesterday – another target of a personal attack by the BJP MP.
In another apparent swipe at Jaitley – who wore a lounge suit for his engagements in Beijing this week and for his meeting with the Bank of China Chairman Tian Guoli – Swamy said ministers who wear a coat and tie “look like waiters” and must be instructed to wear Indian clothes.
BJP should direct our Ministers to wear traditional and modernised Indian clothes while abroad. In coat and tie they look like waiters
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) June 24, 2016
Swamy has been active on Twitter over the last two-three days, attacking officials of the finance ministry and taking swipes at Jaitley.
Though no action has been taken against him, BJP leaders say they are upset by his attacks and are taking a serious view of the matter.
Party sources said there was concern in the organisation and the leadership over the unbridled criticism aimed at the finance ministry and today’s threat of a “bloodbath” over being asked to be disciplined.
But the fact that party and Sangh parivar leaders are not united behind any particular course of action is evident with sources saying they would adopt a wait- and-watch attitude for the time being.
A senior BJP leader sought to dispel the impression that Swamy, who is said to enjoy the support of RSS, has the backing of the Sangh Parivar fountainhead, claiming RSS would not support such an open attack that harms the government’s and party’s image.