BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has launched a tirade against Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accusing her of conflict of interest in the proposed sale of the government-owned national carrier, Air India. Swamy alleged that she was acting on a report submitted by chartered accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, where Sitharaman worked early in her career.
Swamy wrote in his tweet, “How can a Group of Ministers headed by Ms. Sitharaman work on Air India sale based on a Report prepared by Price Waterhouse and Cooper ? She was a employee of PWC while she lived in London. Anyway why do we need foreign consulting companies in such matters? (sic)”
How can a Group of Ministers headed by Ms. Sitharaman work on Air India sale based on a Report prepared by Price Waterhouse and Cooper ? She was a employee of PWC while she lived in London. Anyway why do we need foreign consulting companies in such matters ?
— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) November 26, 2019
Sitharaman had earlier this month told a newspaper that her government was looking towards completing the sale of Air India and oil refiner and marketer BPCL by March next year.
Swamy also retweeted a tweet critical of Sitharaman posted by one of his devout followers. The tweet read, ‘BJP govt’s Finance Minister is a JNU product plus a former employee of PwC . PwC has suggested that Air India needs to be sold without any basis. If FM Nirmala implements that suggestion where she is the head then it’s a clear case of conflict of interest.”
Swamy had routinely given grief to Sitharaman’s predecessor, late Arun Jaitley by questioning his ability to run the finance ministry. He’s often projected himself as a contender for the Finance Minister’s post.
