By A Staff Reporter
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has weighed in on the Kerala government's recent decision to appoint IAS officer K Vasuki as 'foreign secretary,' addressing concerns about the role's scope and implications.
"The fact is that foreign relations are controlled by the Union government and no state government has any independent foreign relations," Tharoor explained. He noted that while state governments do not engage in independent foreign diplomacy, they can work on matters involving their residents without embassies abroad.
Tharoor acknowledged that appointing an official to this specific responsibility is "fairly unusual." However, he emphasized that the role of the 'foreign secretary' in this context does not entail independent foreign relations. "It is very clearly understood that she has no foreign relationship responsibility of her own but it would be basically through Indian government's bodies," he clarified.
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Shashi Tharoor Comments on Kerala’s Appointment of IAS Officer as 'Foreign Secretary'
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor discusses the Kerala government’s unusual appointment of IAS officer K Vasuki as 'foreign secretary,' clarifying the role's limitations in foreign relations.
By A Staff Reporter
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has weighed in on the Kerala government's recent decision to appoint IAS officer K Vasuki as 'foreign secretary,' addressing concerns about the role's scope and implications.
"The fact is that foreign relations are controlled by the Union government and no state government has any independent foreign relations," Tharoor explained. He noted that while state governments do not engage in independent foreign diplomacy, they can work on matters involving their residents without embassies abroad.
Tharoor acknowledged that appointing an official to this specific responsibility is "fairly unusual." However, he emphasized that the role of the 'foreign secretary' in this context does not entail independent foreign relations. "It is very clearly understood that she has no foreign relationship responsibility of her own but it would be basically through Indian government's bodies," he clarified.