(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Congress yesterday questioned the abrupt sacking of foreign secretary Sujatha Singh and demanded that the government explain the reasons for replacing her.
But the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party retorted it was well within the government's rights to decide on appointments.
Congress leader Manish Tewari wondered if the decision was a belated result of the stern stand taken by Sujatha Singh on the Devyani Khobragade issue.
"The foreign secretary is the head of the foreign service... before you start gerrymandering with seniority and fixed tenure, you need to very categorically explain as to what is the reason for doing so," Tewari said.
"After all, if the government was unhappy with the former foreign secretary, then they could have asked her to go earlier. Or did something happen during the US president's visit...
"If not, is there a linkage between the unceremonious sacking and the Devyani issue? Everyone is aware there are a lot of disgruntled people because the former foreign secretary took a calibrated position to protect a young officer prosecuted by the US authorities," he said.
The BJP, however, said it was the government's prerogative to decide on appointments.
"I don't see any reason for the hue and cry. A government is within its rights to decide how it would like to appoint what officers and with what responsibilities. And this is not the first time... Preceding governments have taken (such) decisions," party spokesman Nalin Kohli said.
Tewari, however, asserted that an explanation was needed.
"It may be the government's right to decide, but if the government decides to curtail a fixed tenure, it must provide an explanation," he said.
Sujata Singh was replaced with India's ambassador to the US Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Taking over his new job at South Block, where the Ministry of External Affairs is housed, Jaishankar said: "My priorities are the government's priorities."
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