Sujatha Singh’s abrupt removal as the Foreign Secretary triggered a war of words between the Congress and the BJP on Thursday.Maintaining that Prime Minister Narendra Modi owed an explanation to the nation over her removal “without reason” just after a successful visit by US President Barack Obama, the Congress also pointed to the unceremonious removals of the SPG and DRDO chiefs.
Terming that it was the right of the Government, the BJP countered the Congress by citing how former PM Rajiv Gandhi had sacked then Foreign Secretary AP Venkateswaran publicly at a Press conference in 1987. However, National Conference leader and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the appointment of S Jaishankar as Foreign Secretary, calling it an “excellent” decision.
Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma accused the Prime Minister of “tearing to shreds” the well-considered policy of having fixed tenures for top secretaries in the Government like those of Home, Defence, Finance and Foreign Ministries.
Sharma also alleged that the Cabinet system was delivered a body blow by the Prime Minister by having only two members in the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet comprising him and the Home Minister. Home Minister, he claimed, has told Parliament that he gets the files of the Committee which have already been signed by the PM.
Senior party leader Manish Tewari through a tweet questioned the timing of the Government’s decision to remove Sujatha and wondered whether it was “retribution” for her stand on IFS officer Devyani Khobragade. The BJP, however, ruled out any political motive and said the Government had acted well within its right to decide on appointment of officers. Taking on the Congress for raising questions on the decision, BJP spokesman Nalin Kohli said the Congress spokesperson can try to do politics on anything.
“In any case, it does not appear that they are inspired by their leadership. That’s why their constant method seems to be trying to raise a hue and cry on issues also where there is no scope to do so. And this is not the first time. Preceding Governments have taken (such) decisions,” said Kohli.
Appreciating the Centre’s move, Omar tweeted: “If the reports about Indian Ambassador to US Jaishankar being appointed Foreign Secretary are correct, it’s an excellent decision”. Omar had served as MoS External Affairs in the Vajpayee-led NDA Government.