Prime Minister Narendra Modi has revived the Modi Sonia Gandhi Bibek Debroy controversy by recalling a 2005 incident involving an economic report that ranked Gujarat first among Indian states. Speaking at the Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference in New Delhi, Modi referred to allegations that researchers faced pressure from political leadership in Delhi after the ranking was published.
Modi did not directly name Sonia Gandhi or the institution involved during his remarks. However, he described the organisation as one named after a former Prime Minister and suggested that the audience could identify it from his reference.
He said the ranking was based on research conducted by respected economists but alleged that those in power in Delhi were unhappy with Gujarat receiving the top position. According to Modi, researchers were subsequently told that future publications would require prior political approval.
What Did Bibek Debroy Allege in 2015?
The incident recalled by Modi is connected to statements made by economist Bibek Debroy in a November 2015 interview with India Today TV.
Debroy, who was then associated with the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS), said he had experienced several instances of what he described as intolerance during his time at the institution.
One concerned a research paper titled An Economic Freedom Rating of States in India, which he had prepared with a colleague. Published in 2004, the report ranked Gujarat first.
Debroy claimed that the issue became controversial in 2005 during municipal elections in Gujarat. He alleged that he received a communication stating that future RGICS publications would have to undergo political vetting. According to his account, the instruction was signed by Sonia Gandhi, who chaired the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, the parent organisation of RGICS.
Debroy said he resigned following the communication.
Congress Disputed Debroy's Account
The Congress subsequently rejected Debroy's allegations and released documents and statements to counter his version of events.
The party maintained that Debroy left RGICS in December 2005 after completing his two-year contract. It also stated that he had expressed a desire to resign earlier, on June 30, but that his offer to leave on September 1 had been rejected.
The conflicting accounts remain central to the controversy over the circumstances surrounding Debroy's departure.
Sonia Gandhi's Memoir and the National Advisory Council
Modi's remarks came shortly after Sonia Gandhi released her memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love. The book discusses the National Advisory Council (NAC), which she chaired during the Congress-led UPA government, but the RGICS controversy described by Debroy does not feature in the account highlighted in the report.
In her memoir, Sonia defended the NAC's contribution to social welfare policies and recalled criticism that it functioned as her personal advisory circle.
The NAC faced criticism from Opposition parties, including the BJP, which questioned its influence over government decisions. Sonia resigned as its chairperson in March 2006 amid the office-of-profit controversy.
Modi Brings Intolerance Debate Back Into Focus
During his conference address, Modi also criticised political leaders who, according to him, speak about democracy and tolerance despite the earlier allegations of political interference.
His remarks reopened discussion around the 2005 economic ranking, Debroy's 2015 allegations and the Congress party's response. The episode remains a matter of competing accounts, with Debroy's claims disputed by the Congress.
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