Gujarat report: Sonia plays editor, author says I quit

‘‘For a fiercely independent researcher like Debroy, that amounted to a marching order. We all know he would have never compromised,’’ said Debroy’s friend and economist, Amir Khan of India Development Foundation.

So on July 1, Debroy resigned. He will quit office on August 31 after a two-month notice period.

Although Debroy confirmed his resignation— ‘‘I will vacate office on August 31’’— he refused to comment on it. He, however, defended his report.

Speaking to The Indian Express he said: ‘‘I would point out just five things. First, as researchers, we state facts and usually don’t go into explanation of who or what are responsible for those facts. That’s a different scope of academics all together. Secondly, the report reflects the state of Gujarat as a result of successive governments and can’t be linked to any individual or government. Thirdly, data used in the research were sourced till 2001 and early 2002—clearly before Modi’s tenure as the CM began. Fourthly, we were dealing with economic freedom and not social or political freedom. Finally, the states were judged in three parameters and Gujarat fared exceptionally well in terms of the size of government, which eventually placed it on top.’’

Economist Lavesh Bhandari, co-author of the report, told The Indian Express that while it was opportunistic of Narendra Modi to use the report in his publicity drive, the Congress failed to react in a mature way.

‘‘I was surprised to see how such a simple report could inspire this political tamasha. Debroy’s resignation is very unfortunate. It sends wrong signals so far academic freedom is concerned,’’ he said.

Subodh Kumar of Friedrish Naumann Stiftung, the German institute that commissioned the report, said: ‘‘The Congress has to be blamed more than Modi for such an unwise move. If Modi has been irresponsible, then Sonia Gandhi, giving in to pressure from her own party members, has been reckless in her decision.’’