May 18, 2025 10:22 pm (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Centre picks Shashi Tharoor to head all-party delegation for 'exposing' Pak-backed terrorism globally | Rape convict, survivor express willingness to get married; exchange flowers in Supreme Court | 'Are nukes safe with irresponsible and rogue nation like Pakistan?': Rajnath Singh questions world | 'Go and apologise': Supreme Court slams Madhya Pradesh minister over remark against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi | 'Can timelines be imposed?': President Murmu's question to Supreme Court on Tamil Nadu verdict | 'Had Indira Gandhi been alive, I would've asked her why PoK was not taken back in Simla Agreement': Himanta Biswa Sarma | India's stand demanding vacation of Pak-occupied Kashmir unchanged: MEA | PM Modi visits Adampur Air Base days after Operation Sindoor | Jammu and Kashmir: Three Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in Shopian | US: Two Indian students die in road mishap in Pennsylvania

S Jaishankar replaces Sujatha Singh as Foreign Secretary

| | Jan 29, 2015, at 06:50 pm
New Delhi, Jan 29 (IBNS): India's ambassador to USA, S Jaishankar, has taken over as the country's new Foreign Secretary as Sujatha Singh was removed abruptly several months ahead of her tenure ends, triggering a controversy.

Jaishankar was the India's Ambassador to the US but his appointment has been criticised by the Opposition Congress.

The new foreign secretary on the questions by journalists on the suddenness of his appointment said: "As I take over, I am happy to work with all of you. I know that media is an important part of our Foreign Policy projection. So, I don’t think this is the time to get into to those kinds of questions. I really thank you all for being here today. I value your good wishes and I am sure we will have lot to do with each other.

Asked to outline his priorities, he said: "My priorities are the government’s priorities. So, I think at this time let’s leave it at that."

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.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Close menu