After Obama visit, Modi names India’s US envoy Foreign Secretary

NEW DELHI — A day after United States President Barack Obama left town, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government removed the Foreign Ministry’s top bureaucrat and replaced her with the nation’s Ambassador to the US.

Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, who also served as India’s envoy to China from 2009 to 2013, was appointed Foreign Secretary, said a government statement on Wednesday. He succeeds Ms Sujatha Singh, who becomes the first person since 1987 in the post to be removed before her term expires.

Dr Jaishankar, 60, who was due to retire by the end of the month, played a key role during Mr Modi’s visit to the US last September and Mr Obama’s recent three-day tour. He will have a tenure of two years, said the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

“It’s a very Modi-like decision and characteristic of the Prime Minister,” said New Delhi’s Society for Policy Studies director Uday Bhaskar. “It sends a message to the bureaucracy that performers will be rewarded.”

Mr Obama’s visit highlighted warming ties between the US and India, which are wary of China’s geostrategic aims and looking to boost growth. They reached a breakthrough on civilian nuclear cooperation and signed deals to strengthen defence ties, including the possibility of sharing technology for aircraft carriers.

Along with his experience representing India in the world’s two biggest economies, Dr Jaishankar helped negotiate the groundbreaking US-India civil nuclear agreement in 2005.

“A big plus point for Jaishankar is he has elaborate experience with the US,” said Mr Salman Haidar, India’s former Foreign Secretary. “This is an extremely important relationship for India and the Prime Minister.”

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj plans to visit China on Sunday to participate in trilateral talks that include Russia. During Mr Obama’s trip, the US and India highlighted the need to safeguard maritime security in the South China Sea, prompting Beijing to urge non-claimants to butt out.

Ms Singh, the ousted bureaucrat, is due to retire later this year. The last Foreign Secretary to leave office unceremoniously was AP Venkateswaran, who was removed by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in part over his criticism of India’s presence in Sri Lanka as part of peacekeeping operations.

“This time, the circumstances are unusual,” said Mr Lalit Mansingh, former Foreign Secretary and former Ambassador to the US, on Ms Singh’s removal. “Ultimately, the Prime Minister wants a Foreign Secretary who has his confidence and it’s well within his right to appoint Jaishankar.”

Mr Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party rejected criticism over the timing of Ms Singh’s removal and said it was not political, according to spokesman Nalin Satyakam Kohli. “The government is within its right to appoint anyone for any responsibility. Jaishankar is an outstanding officer and enjoys a stunning reputation.” BLOOMBERG