Prime Minister Narendra Modi has revived a 2005 controversy involving economist Bibek Debroy and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi while speaking about democracy and intolerance at the Kisan Tak Bharat Agriculture Conference in New Delhi.
Recalling Gujarat’s top position in an economic freedom ranking during his tenure as Chief Minister, Modi alleged that the recognition had upset the Congress leadership in Delhi. He claimed researchers were subsequently instructed to obtain political approval before publishing reports.
The controversy dates back to 2005, when Debroy was heading the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (RGICS). In a 2015 interview, Debroy alleged that Sonia Gandhi, who chaired the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, had directed that the institute’s publications undergo political scrutiny. He said he resigned following the development.
The Congress rejected his allegations, maintaining that Debroy left the institute after his contractual term ended.
Modi referred to the episode to question the Congress leadership’s position on democracy and freedom of expression. His remarks have brought renewed attention to the long-running debate over political influence on independent research.