India losing a skillful economic thinker: Amartya Sen

'It is sad for the country and it is sad for the government of the country too,' says the Nobel Laureate.

Terming Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan's decision not to seek a second term as 'sad' for the country, Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen felt India is losing one of the most skillful economic thinkers in the world.

'We are losing one of the most skillful financial economic thinkers in the world. It is sad for the country and it is sad for the government of the country too. The RBI is not a completely autonomous institution,' Professor Sen told a television channel.

In an apparent reference to Bharatiya Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy, who attacked Dr Rajan on numerous occasions, Professor Sen said, 'It is true that some members of the ruling party, I understand -- I have not seen that but somebody told me -- have been sniping at Raghuram Rajan. That certainly is unfortunate.'

Noting that he is not a great admirer of the Narendra Modi government, the economist said the administration may have to decide what it wants in its policy.