Indian Foreign Policy

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 29 Jan 2015 01:16

Ramana sir, no doubting Jaishankar's ability. His name as foreign policy advisor in PMO has been doing rounds for a while now. Not questioning the decision to replace SS with Jaishankar who has served in all key countries (US, Japan, China, EU, etc.) and is widely recognized as a very cerebral diplomat.

What surprised me is the sacking of Sujatha Singh in such an unceremonious / public manner. Definitely it would be because of something she did or failed to do and not because her father was a family loyalist. Just wondering what it is.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 Jan 2015 01:26

People don't understand. In India all babus serve at the pleasure of the President.

Termination with or without cause is an imperial legacy.

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 29 Jan 2015 02:33

schinnas wrote:Ramana sir, no doubting Jaishankar's ability. His name as foreign policy advisor in PMO has been doing rounds for a while now. Not questioning the decision to replace SS with Jaishankar who has served in all key countries (US, Japan, China, EU, etc.) and is widely recognized as a very cerebral diplomat.

What surprised me is the sacking of Sujatha Singh in such an unceremonious / public manner. Definitely it would be because of something she did or failed to do and not because her father was a family loyalist. Just wondering what it is.

Same thoughts from me too. It could have been managed much more gracefully even if the govt has all powers to move around the bureaucrats. All it required was to tell Sujatha that she will be moved to some other role and she would have put in her papers. Then bring in Jaishankar. Manage the media accordingly even if news trickles out later.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 Jan 2015 02:42

ReDiff had an article dated Dec 28th where they leaked that Mrs. SS would be replaced. So it was known looks like and not some pique that caused this change.

LINK

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's ambassador to the United States, is likely to be appointed as India's next foreign secretary, replacing Sujatha Singh, who is due for retirement in August 2015, a top source in the Narendra Modi government told Rediff.com

The radical administrative decision is likely to create a strong reaction within the Indian Foreign Service.

As the foreign secretary enjoys a fixed two-year tenure, Sujatha Singh would not like to make way willingly eight months before her retirement.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is backing Singh to stay on as foreign secretary. Swaraj's reluctance is understandable because the move will reflect on her own performance as EAM.

Swaraj has, so far, made her mark amongst serving diplomats. Most senior diplomats swear by her talent to grasp quickly complex issues of international affairs.

The prime minister and his advisers feel Indian foreign policy's main aim is to propel the nation's economic growth. Modi has truly outstanding plans to implement in the SAARC bloc of countries. Nepal and Bhutan have already received special attention under the new government.

Sujatha Singh -- only the third woman diplomat to serve as foreign secretary -- has not served at Indian missions in any of India's neighbours.

Dr Jaishankar is seen as a bigger player on a larger stage and considered suitable to go along with Modi's worldview.

Dr Jaishankar -- whose father was the legendary guru of strategic affairs, K Subrahmanyam -- has the appetite to take bold decisions and capable of out of box thinking. Before he moved to Washington, DC, Dr Jaishankar served as ambassador in China and as high commissioner in Singapore.

From the foreign service's 1978 batch, Dr Jaishankar was considered the front-runner to succeed Ranjan Mathai as foreign secretary last year.

Then prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who valued his work on the India-US nuclear agreement (Dr Jaishankar has a PhD in international relations, specialising in nuclear diplomacy) was willing to appoint him as foreign secretary, but succumbed to the pressure of his advisors and two senior Congress party leaders.

Dr Singh settled for Sujatha Singh -- whose father is the former Intelligence Bureau director T V Rajeshwar -- going by the criteria of seniority.

Dr Jaishankar would have retired from the IFS in January 2015 in due course, but Dr Singh extended the tenure of six IFS officers in August 2013 by two years which included Dr Jaishankar who was then appointed India's ambassador to the US. Dr Jaishankar will now retire in December 2016.

So its not a sudden Modi decision and we should understand that. Its one month to when the news was leaked and Lootyens must have been prepared.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 29 Jan 2015 03:13

ramana wrote:
Then prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, who valued his work on the India-US nuclear agreement (Dr Jaishankar has a PhD in international relations, specialising in nuclear diplomacy) was willing to appoint him as foreign secretary, but succumbed to the pressure of his advisors and two senior Congress party leaders.

Dr Singh settled for Sujatha Singh -- whose father is the former Intelligence Bureau director T V Rajeshwar -- going by the criteria of seniority.

So, it is quite possible Sonia Madam told MMS whom to appoint.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 Jan 2015 03:58

What does Sanjay Baru's book say?

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 29 Jan 2015 04:11

Some more on the FS story:
Sujatha Singh dismissed, Jaishankar new foreign secretary

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took the decision. "Curtailment of tenure of Ms Sujatha Singh as Foreign Secretary with immediate effect," the decision stated. It added Jaishankar had been appointed in her place.

Singh was appointed in August 2013. The then government was divided over the choice, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh preferring Jaishankar and others favouring Singh. Finally, seniority was relied on to appoint her.

She is the daughter of former Uttar Pradesh Governor T V Rajeshwar, a former Indian Police Service officer, who was Director of the Intelligence Bureau during the Rajiv Gandhi years.

Jaishankar has served as an ambassador to Beijing. He had also played a key role in inking of the India-US civil nuclear agreement. His father, K Subrahmanyam, was a civil servant and a renowned strategic affairs analyst.

Singh had never served in any of India's missions in the neighbourhood. Jaishankar was India's ambassador to Beijing before moving to Washington DC.

I wasn't aware Jaishankar was KS's son.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 Jan 2015 04:13

He has another son who is a Prof in UCLA.
And another very low profile son in IAS.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 Jan 2015 07:03

TOI clearly says Ss was sacked for performance.

Modi made it very clear over the many months.

It also insinuates Sonia Gandhi role in appointing her.

A whole revamp of the MEA is about to happen with Ambassadors and JS being appointed.

Watch the fall out.

member_25399 · Post by **member_25399** » 29 Jan 2015 11:27

May be OT here, but it high time that the GOI revisits the procedure for critical appointments.
At such levels, seniority should never take preference above ability/work exp. Jaishanker should have been appointed year back instead of SS.
And if I remember correctly, he was also critical in saving GOI face during Daulat beg incident.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 29 Jan 2015 11:31

Unfortunate in the manner of change.From reports both individuals were highly thought of. No disrespect to both of them. The new For Sec. has excellent credentials and track record.The transition however could've been better handled.Coming just after O'Bomber has departed gives the appearance of it being no coincidence. In fact if the new For.Sec. is so highly thought of,and the fact that he was due for retirement,a political post could've been created for him overseeing matters in the For Min. under FM SS,without upsetting the applecart in the ministry,especially if others who have also been overlooked also resign. Reshuffling the pack of envoys is par for the course whenever a new dispensation takes over.

The problem of seniority plagues every govt. dept,including the armed forces.remember the Gen.VKS saga. How do you evaluate merit? You could have 3-4 individuals who have outstanding careers.It is a v. difficult choice to make in such cases and we see this happen at regular intervals. Coming on the heels of the sacking of the DRDO chief is bound to send tremors down the "iron frame"."Perform or perish" appears to be the new mantra today.

member_25399 · Post by **member_25399** » 29 Jan 2015 11:38

It always baffle's me why so much of importance paid to the manner in which appointment/retirements are made.
As ramana saar pointed out "People don't understand. In India all babus serve at the pleasure of the President."
Whether for a out-going person a red-carpet is rolled out or not is secondary or of no value.

srin · Post by **srin** » 29 Jan 2015 12:09

In terms of seniority, who is higher: Ambassador or Foreign Secretary ?

I thought that Ambassadors are political appointees, and no retirement age etc. And foreign secretary is the zenith of a career IFS officer. Do ambassadors report to the foreign secretary ?

Nirupama Rao became ambassador to US *after* retiring as Foreign Secretary.
Ranjan Mathai became the High Commissioner to UK *after* retiring as Foreign Secretary.

eklavya · Post by **eklavya** » 29 Jan 2015 12:40

Sujatha Singh represented India very well when Indian students were under attack in Australia. She also managed the unfortunate Devayani episode well. If the government's foreign policy is a success, she too gets a share of the credit. The manner of her dismissal is quite wrong, no two ways about it; it will do long lasting harm to the IFS, further politicising the service.

srin · Post by **srin** » 29 Jan 2015 12:59

It is the PM prerogative to work with the civil servant who it has confidence can implement the policy. PMs and CMs transfer the civil servants all the time. The Finance secretary was transferred and there wasn't any widespread heartburn.

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 29 Jan 2015 14:18

tv reports she was offered a few options for "honourable exit".

evidently she did not take any of these and hence the final decision from the appointments committee.

pankajs · Post by **pankajs** » 29 Jan 2015 14:24

/Chanikyan Theory

SS might have been a high level mole within the GOI for the CON and the media. So you see them doing public rudhali to morn her loss of access and their source of info. We've had quite a few damaging high level leaks from within this GOI.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 29 Jan 2015 14:25

S Jaishankar is India's new Foreign Secretary: Here's why Modi govt showed Sujatha Singh the door

According to a Times of India report, the Prime Minister had wanted her removed from the post and it was only the intervention of Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that had stalled the action so far. The impasse had also meant that the government had refused to clear any ambassadorial appointments for the last six months and is now expected to follow up with a slew of appointments.

Officials also reportedly said that Modi had kept Singh out of crucial decision making like the cancellation of Foreign Secretary talks with Pakistan and the Obama visit to India.

Jaishankar was reportedly a front runner to be the foreign secretary when the Manmohan Singh government was in power but Singh was reportedly picked over him because of her seniority. However, other reports suggest that her appointment was also influenced by the fact that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may have been overruled by his party on the decision to appoint Jaishankar as the foreign secretary. The UPA government's decision at the time may have been influenced by the fact that Singh's father was former IB chief and ex-UP governor TV Rajeshwar, who is seen as a Congress loyalist.

Former PM Manmohan Singh was reportedly keen on appointing Jaishankar as the foreign secretary for his work done during the Indo-US civil nuclear deal while he was joint secretary in charge of the Americas between 2004 and 2007. The diplomat, who is the son of defence strategist K Subrahmanyam, also happens to be the longest serving ambassador to China.

Jaishankar was India's ambassador to the US at the time therelationship between India and US soured over the arrest of Khobragade, but has since been credited with turning things around. After the success of Modi's trip to the US, Jaishankar was credited with getting Obama to attend Republic Day celebrations.

A 1977-batch IFS officer, Jaishankar had only days to go for his retirement. He took charge as the foreign secretary on Thursday morning. While Jaishankar refused to take any questions on his appointment this morning, he did say he was 'honoured' to be entrusted with the responsibility. "Government's responsibilities are my responsibilities," he added.

Modi government had reportedly waited for the US president's trip to end before making the announcement. It will now be hoping that Jaishankar can re-create the success of the last few months many times over in his two-year tenure.

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 29 Jan 2015 15:14

Funny how Sushma aunt said to have supported a suspected Con Mafia loyalist. I wonder if she has any serious problem with understanding the reality around her. She seriously made a mess of her future by opposing NM before elections and now continue to do mistakes like this. Her record in previous ABV administration do not inspire much confidence. She has no other administrative or political accomplishment worth mentioning except a year or so as Delhi CM after with BJP yet to win back Delhi state.

I do hope SJ and NM do well to stop her making a mess out of the MEA.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 29 Jan 2015 17:36

The FM and diplomacy is based upon strict protocol.The pecking order is quite well established,What often happens is that "track-2" diplomacy,"back channels",etc. often are conducted without the knowledge of the mandarins of the FM.This is done everywhere,all over the world,but generally as an exception rather than the rule,esp. when regular parleys do not make much headway.Trusted confidantes are used to convey messages and parley with power centres independently,often suprising the mandarins of state who are taken unawares when policy decisions taken at the top run counter to their recommendations. What appears from this episode is that Mr.Modi is in a great hurry to get the Indian eco machine moving and is wasting no time,sliicing through red tape when required.He would like to have a For. Sec. who can keep up with his "pace".If the lady in Q was offered alternatives as is alleged,then she should've gracefully taken it rather than wait for the chop,as ultimately,the boss is the boss.Rajiv G also beheaded APV ,however the diff was that he mentioned it at a press conference which was not fair.

schinnas · Post by **schinnas** » 29 Jan 2015 18:00

gauravsh wrote:It always baffle's me why so much of importance paid to the manner in which appointment/retirements are made.
As ramana saar pointed out "People don't understand. In India all babus serve at the pleasure of the President."
Whether for a out-going person a red-carpet is rolled out or not is secondary or of no value.

Such argument doesn't hold water. Even in private companies, CEO serves at the pleasure of the board of directors. However, unceremonious firing is done only to send a message and generally in case where the CEO has done something that violated company ethics, etc. Otherwise, they are made to exit gracefully - generally resign for family or health reasons.

To be fair, there are indications that SS was given "hints" to make a graceful exit. But still questions linger. To me it could have been handled smoothly. Avoiding unnecessary controversies is abolutely important as we dont have time and energy to waste. So much to do now to fix economy and make progress on social issues.

That said, I welcome Jaishankar as FS. He is the most capable person for the job - someone who has great understanding of both US and China and has served in Japan, EU and neighbors like Sri Lanka. MEA stands to gain immensely from this appointment.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 Jan 2015 19:49

schinnas, The definition of a Black Swan event per Taleb is as follows:

Its a rare event
It has severe repercussions
It is generalized after the fact as a beyond six sigma event.

Current Black Swan event:

NaMo election is a Black Swan event in recent times in India.
It has severe repercussions for D4 & Lootyens gang and Delhi Mughal Darbar retainers.
And is now rationalized by every expert as if they saw it coming all along reflecting hindsight bias.

NaMo blew past many barriers put by D4, Congress, hostile Media and US interlopers and caught the imagination of India and got elected with significant majority.

Many of the ancient regime are unable to comprehend this and are putting barriers in his path for what ever petty reason.

NaMo can use the state machinery just like Congress used to payback in kind but he wants to be different leader and give people a chance to perform or move over.

Failing that he will use the power of the State as it is a Constitutional power vested in him by the public.
Just because some one didn't vote for him doesn't mean the power is not valid/legitimate.

Having said that his use of state power is modest but only as last resort.

All the hangers-on Governors and entities inserted by Congress to be their moles should have quit gracefully. But are not in the mistaken belief that they can hang on using existing legal/SC means.

rgsrini · Post by **rgsrini** » 29 Jan 2015 20:40

Had actually sought early retirement, claims Sujata Singh

In her e-mail dated January 28, Singh said that she had sought early retirement from the government service after 38 years. She, in her farewell message, speaks glowingly about the foreign service.

"While individuals can and do play a critical role in building institutions, I believe that no individual is larger than the institution. It can never be about individuals. It has to be about institutions and how institutions interface and coordinate with each other," Singh said in her e-mail.

Good going Sujata Singh for keeping it clean and professional!

IMO, that that there is no reference to Shri Jayshankar or Shri Modi, betrays the hurt. I may be overanalyzing it though.

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 29 Jan 2015 20:43

X-Post

pankajs wrote:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/new ... 054409.cms
Full text of ex-foreign secretary Sujatha Singh's farewell letter
Dear Colleagues,

I have today sought early retirement from Government service.[/b]

My life as a civil servant in the service of India, both overseas and in India, has given me the opportunity to serve not just the Government of India but the people of India and the idea of India that we have had the honour to represent as professional diplomats - the largest democracy in the world, teeming, vibrant, resonant with all its diversities, cultures, languages and civilisational splendour. A democracy that demands patience in untangling the mysterious ways it works, a system that infuriates more often than not, but a system that surprisingly also delivers, more often than not, because of the people who hold it up, the people who make it run.

I believe that civil servants are among the millions of people who work towards enabling India to deliver, who work towards enabling India to realise its enormous potential, who assist fellow Indians in realising their aspirations. Not all civil servants perhaps, but some of us certainly, and among them I count the Indian Foreign Service as amongst, if not the best in terms of professionalism, in terms of competence and in terms of sheer dedication and world view. Like any other civil service or indeed profession, we have our shortcomings. But what we do possess in the Ministry of External Affairs are great institutional strengths, strengths that we have consistently built on over the years and that keep MEA in the vanguard of change in GOL It is this inherent strength that has enabled MEA to rise consistently to the challenges presented to us - to prepare, to organise, to deliver and to follow up, on what has perhaps been the most charged, and indeed the most successful, calendar of any new Government's post election foreign engagements.

I believe that the Foreign Secretary, as Head of this Service and the senior-most civil servant in the Ministry, plays a critical role in being the main point of interface with the political leadership, in giving objective advice that takes into account India's foreign policy interests over all connected and interlinked aspects.

While individuals can and do play a critical role in building institutions, I believe that no individual is larger than the institution. It can never be about individuals. It has to be about institutions and how institutions interface and coordinate with each other.

Colleagues, it has been my privilege to have served over 38 years in the Indian Foreign Service, and a particular privilege to have served as Foreign Secretary over the past 18 months, leading the remarkable women and men who work selflessly, at all levels of MEA,to advance India's interests abroad. I will continue to cherish this sense of pride for the rest of my life.

Best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

(Sujatha Singh)

Good job. She has a future in some role.

Frederic · Post by **Frederic** » 29 Jan 2015 22:03

Yagnasri wrote:Funny how Sushma aunt said to have supported a suspected Con Mafia loyalist. I wonder if she has any serious problem with understanding the reality around her. She seriously made a mess of her future by opposing NM before elections and now continue to do mistakes like this. Her record in previous ABV administration do not inspire much confidence. She has no other administrative or political accomplishment worth mentioning except a year or so as Delhi CM after with BJP yet to win back Delhi state.

I do hope SJ and NM do well to stop her making a mess out of the MEA.

Saar, Sushma Swaraj is nothing but a guided projectile in the External Affairs Ministry. NaMo is totally running the show. Her role has been stunted to giving some innocuous bhaashans and distributing occasional hugs to Gujrat Gravediggers

RoyG · Post by **RoyG** » 29 Jan 2015 22:08

Sushma is powerful. The fact that she was able to wiggle her way into the external affairs portfolio means she is like Jaitely. She knows a lot and has experience in dealing with with the corrupt. She did a good job dealing with Kerry and she has been active in the past 6 months trying to forge deeper alliances with our neighbors both immediate and beyond.

gandharva · Post by **gandharva** » 30 Jan 2015 00:41

Why PM Modi was unhappy with Sujatha Singh

NEW DELHI: Over the past six months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is learnt to have been repeatedly unhappy with the MEA and particularly with former foreign secretary Sujatha Singh's leadership, which failed to keep pace with his bigger interests.

Where Sujatha Singh and the PMO diverged was her inability — or unwillingness — to make the necessary course corrections.

Early problems cropped up between the Singh-led MEA and the PMO when the BRICS summit declaration put in a paragraph critical of Israel, a country Modi has declared as a priority partner.

This was followed by India voting against Israel at the UNHRC — which was along the lines of the MEA's traditional stance, but very different from the stand of the new government. In fact, an abstention was not even considered, which the PMO objected to. It was, therefore, no surprise that Modi chose to meet Benjamin Netanyahu in New York.

With Japan, too, the view in the PMO was that Singh failed to run with the outcomes of Modi's visit there in September. As a result, things are said to have slowed down in a relationship into which Modi has deeply invested.

On Denmark, the PM is said to have suffered a personal slight. The Gujarat government had invited the Danish PM to Vibrant Gujarat. But the visit failed to materialize because the MEA refused to budge from its stand that no high-level contact was allowed unless they resolved the issue of Kim Davy, despite the fact that Modi had a personal interest in the Danes. The Danish PM did not come, and serious wrinkles have appeared in that bilateral relationship.

Singh and foreign minister Sushma Swaraj built a working relationship, but since neither of them had any meaningful relationship with the PMO, the MEA began to be bypassed in major decisions on foreign policy. It wasn't long before the foreign minister-foreign secretary relationship also began to turn tepid.

Swaraj tweeted on Thursday that it was the government's decision appoint Jaishankar, who had to be brought in before he retired on January 31. "Then I spoke to Ms Sujatha Singh personally," she tweeted, indicating that she was very much a party to the replacement decision.

Modi's keenness in India's relationship with the US brought ambassador Jaishankar in Washington into a key role of taking bilateral ties forward. By the time Modi invited Obama for R-Day, Singh had been told she would be replaced. Jaishankar is rated very well both by the Modi government and in MEA, and was also able to grasp the core of Modi's foreign policy. Sources said Singh was offered a UPSC post for an honourable exit, but she declined the offer.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... mesofindia

gandharva · Post by **gandharva** » 30 Jan 2015 00:46

Sources also said the prime minister was not happy at the quality of advice from the foreign secretary. He found her lacking in her grasp of economic diplomacy. The PMO was reportedly unhappy about the lack of follow-up after Modi's successful engagement with Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-new ... 11853.aspx

ramana · Post by **ramana** » 30 Jan 2015 03:11

See gandharva my above post on what is a "kala hans"! Third point.

All these bakwas explanations after the fact like they were wise enough to know. Sid Vardarajan also wrote some thing and I countered him.

gandharva · Post by **gandharva** » 30 Jan 2015 04:54

ramana wrote:TOI clearly says Ss was sacked for performance.

Modi made it very clear over the many months.

It also insinuates Sonia Gandhi role in appointing her.

A whole revamp of the MEA is about to happen with Ambassadors and JS being appointed.

Watch the fall out.

K.P. Nayar says the same.

"After putting his stamp on the choice of a new foreign secretary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to rebuild the ministry of external affairs in the next few months on the foundations of his foreign policy priorities"

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150130/j ... MrMRDX5JkI

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 30 Jan 2015 06:16

gandharva wrote:
ramana wrote:TOI clearly says Ss was sacked for performance.Modi made it very clear over the many months.It also insinuates Sonia Gandhi role in appointing her"After putting his stamp on the choice of a new foreign secretary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to rebuild the ministry of external affairs in the next few months on the foundations of his foreign policy priorities"
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150130/j ... MrMRDX5JkI

House cleaning and throwing out the detritus Babu material,fossilized (non) thinking of Old dispensation. No one knows how many of Umashankars have been inserted into governmental machinery to do the Kolaveri on behalf of Tadkamma.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 30 Jan 2015 06:29

What is Modi's personal interest in the Danes as the ToI report says?

ldev · Post by **ldev** » 30 Jan 2015 06:32

ramana wrote: NaMo can use the state machinery just like Congress used to payback in kind but he wants to be different leader and give people a chance to perform or move over.

After Avinash Chander this is the second high level official to be sacked. Modi wants people in key positions who will implement his vision. He is in a hurry to make up for all the lost decades and it is about time that somebody like him shakes up the establishment and makes it performance oriented.

arshyam · Post by **arshyam** » 30 Jan 2015 07:07

SSridhar wrote:What is Modi's personal interest in the Danes as the ToI report says?

Apparently, it had to do with the Vibrant Gujarat summit:

On Denmark, the PM is said to have suffered a personal slight. The Gujarat government had invited the Danish PM to Vibrant Gujarat. But the visit failed to materialize because the MEA refused to budge from its stand that no high-level contact was allowed unless they resolved the issue of Kim Davy, despite the fact that Modi had a personal interest in the Danes. The Danish PM did not come, and serious wrinkles have appeared in that bilateral relationship.

Is Denmark really that big an investor for it be considered an issue? The MEA has a point w.r.t. the Kim Davy issue - we still haven't been able to resolve it, and Denmark hasn't really addressed any of our concerns. Sure, they traced and arrested him, but he is still sitting nicely in Denmark itself without us having any access to him.

Frederic · Post by **Frederic** » 30 Jan 2015 07:19

arshyam wrote:
SSridhar wrote:What is Modi's personal interest in the Danes as the ToI report says?
Apparently, it had to do with the Vibrant Gujarat summit:
On Denmark, the PM is said to have suffered a personal slight. The Gujarat government had invited the Danish PM to Vibrant Gujarat. But the visit failed to materialize because the MEA refused to budge from its stand that no high-level contact was allowed unless they resolved the issue of Kim Davy, despite the fact that Modi had a personal interest in the Danes. The Danish PM did not come, and serious wrinkles have appeared in that bilateral relationship.
Is Denmark really that big an investor for it be considered an issue? The MEA has a point w.r.t. the Kim Davy issue - we still haven't been able to resolve it, and Denmark hasn't really addressed any of our concerns. Sure, they traced and arrested him, but he is still sitting nicely in Denmark itself without us having any access to him.

Plus the reports that the Gujrat Gravedigger has used the Danes ( among other oh so coy Scandinavians) as her cat's paw to maul us in the recent past.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 30 Jan 2015 07:30

arshyam wrote:Is Denmark really that big an investor for it be considered an issue? The MEA has a point w.r.t. the Kim Davy issue - we still haven't been able to resolve it, and Denmark hasn't really addressed any of our concerns. Sure, they traced and arrested him, but he is still sitting nicely in Denmark itself without us having any access to him.

I can understand Modi's pique with Sujata Singh on the Japan or Israel issue, but I am unable to understand the Danish issue. IMHO, a principled Indian foreign policy position can't be sacrificed at the altar of a 'vibrant Gujarat'. It is now country that matters.

putnanja · Post by **putnanja** » 30 Jan 2015 07:51

ldev wrote:
ramana wrote: NaMo can use the state machinery just like Congress used to payback in kind but he wants to be different leader and give people a chance to perform or move over.
After Avinash Chander this is the second high level official to be sacked. Modi wants people in key positions who will implement his vision. He is in a hurry to make up for all the lost decades and it is about time that somebody like him shakes up the establishment and makes it performance oriented.

Don't forget Mayaram, the former finance secretary who is now minorities affairs secretary! Finance, Defence, home & MEA are considered the cream of IAS/IFS postings.

Suraj · Post by **Suraj** » 30 Jan 2015 09:25

SSridhar wrote:I can understand Modi's pique with Sujata Singh on the Japan or Israel issue, but I am unable to understand the Danish issue. IMHO, a principled Indian foreign policy position can't be sacrificed at the altar of a 'vibrant Gujarat'. It is now country that matters.

Keep in mind that the source is ToI . That bit set off my bool sheet meter, and sounds way too much like an obvious trial balloon that was inserted to tarnish the decision: "Anti-national Modi pushes out strong willed FS who refused to compromise on security over his economic interests!"

Yagnasri · Post by **Yagnasri** » 30 Jan 2015 09:59

Media seems to be bored with Delhi election coverage and invented the news items in SS sacking. Otherwise Babus come and Babus go and no one bothered.

NM is testing waters in many fronts to find out who can be friends and who can not be. Jap, Chipanda, Khan all are tested now and results are not encouraging. Khan with their sicular talk deliberately to insult NM, Japs with their failure to sign up the nuclear deal with us, Chipand with border incursions showed the limitations on their engagements. But attempt is to be made and was made and picture is clearer now. NM can take decisions based on realistic assessment of the other powers. I think the appointment of JS at this point will to critical. Find the scope of benefits and limitations in each relationship and proceed accordingly.

Who in MEA clear Obomber speak on sicular rubbish??? My understanding is that it should be cleared by them.

Sudip · Post by **Sudip** » 30 Jan 2015 10:33

Nirmala Sitharaman on breaking of talks with Pakistan