Scrapping J&K Special Status Was Right, But Economy Needs Fixing, Says Subramanian Swamy

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy said on Sunday that withdrawing Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was the right decision, but that the economy “needs to be corrected” because it too matters for national security and nation-building. He made the remarks to the media at an event in Pune.

Blame for the slowdown

Swamy attributed the economic slowdown to what he called wrong policies adopted while Arun Jaitley was finance minister, some of which he said remain in place, including high taxes. He also faulted former Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan, saying his decision to raise interest rates was among the causes.

Asked about both the Centre’s move on Article 370, which had given Jammu and Kashmir special powers, and the economy, Swamy drew a distinction between the two. “My advice was not sought on the economic front,” he said, adding that he had been consulted on Article 370 and that the matter had been handled correctly.

He said the economy should now be given priority, and that both issues were important for building the nation and keeping it secure.

Background

Jaitley was finance minister during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first term. At the time of Swamy’s remarks, Jaitley, 66, was on life support at AIIMS in Delhi.

See also: Bharatiya Janata Party and political leaders.

Originally published on 19 August 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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