Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said it was an “unfair attack” by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh to accuse Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel of sacrificing the central bank’s autonomy. “Must politicians attack those who cannot defend themselves in the same tone?” he said on Twitter.

In Congress mouthpiece National Herald, Ramesh had called for Patel’s resignation on Saturday, saying, “Urjit Patel is either guilty of misleading the nation about the RBI’s preparedness on demonetisation or has sacrificed the autonomy of the RBI.”

The economist had also questioned Patel’s silence on the issue. “How can the head of the RBI, which is solely responsible for the current currency crisis, not be seen clarifying and assuring the nation amid this grave crisis? Patel...might not have been honest with his views on the entire demonetisation process,” the Congress leader added.