Surjit Bhalla resigns from PMEAC, another setback for PM Modi

The PMO said on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted the resignation of economist Surjit Bhalla as part-time member of his Economic Advisory Council (EAC). Bhalla resigned from his post on December 1, this year.

Surjit Bhalla’s resignation would take effect from the same date said a senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Apparently, the announcement of his resignation comes a day after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel resigned from his post but Bhalla said in a Twitter post that he had resigned from his post on December 1.

The PMO official said, “In his request, he had stated that he would be joining some other organisation.”

The committee is headed by NITI Aayog Member Bibek Debroy, other part-time members of the EAC-PM include economists Rathin Roy, Ashima Goyal and Shamika Ravi.

Meanwhile, following the ongoing rift with the central government, RBI governor Urjit Patel today resigned with immediate effect from the post, though in the statement released by him, Patel cited personal reason behind his resignation.

The statement said: “On account of personal reasons, I have decided to step down from my current position effective immediately. It has been my privilege and honour to serve in the Reserve Bank of India in various capacities over the years. The support and hard work of RBI staff, officers and management has been the proximate driver of the Bank’s considerable accomplishments in recent years. I take this opportunity to express gratitude to my colleagues and Directors of the RBI Central Board and wish them all the best for the future. Urjit R Patel 10th December 2018.”

Also read: Urjit Patel resigns: This is how Twitterati reacts