December 11, 2024 19:29 (IST)
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My reputation is maligned: Sujatha Singh
New Delhi, Jan 30 (IBNS): A day after Sujatha Singh was removed abruptly as the country's Foreign Secretary several months ahead of her tenure ends, the Indian ambassador to USA on Friday hit out at the government and said her reputation is being maligned.
Speaking to NDTV, she said, "My reputation is being maligned, my record being trashed. Why was this necessary?"
Singh was removed soon after the return of US President Barack Obama from India.
She was replaced by S Jaishankar.
"It was a decision that had already been taken and nothing I could have done would have made a difference," she said.
"Why has it become so low and dirty?" the 60-year-old officer questioned, and told NDTV that she wanted to set the record straight.
She said that she required an honourable exit.
"I don't mean a tenure as Ambassador or a tenure in UPSC. I mean an exit which is in keeping with what I have been as an individual, what I have been as an officer, as a Foreign Secretary," she told the channel.
After a meeting of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jaishankar was appointed, with the decision following close on the heels of the three-day visit of US President Barack Obama to India.
Jaishankar is a 1977 batch officer who is the son of K Subrahmanyam, a well known strategic analyst.
While Congress asked why he was suddenly appointed despite his unquestionable competence, BJP defended the move.
"The government has the right to appoint any officer. Many of the previous governments have done this. I don't know why the Congress is making this a political issue. The Modi government wants to make India strong, " said BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli.
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