New Delhi, September 11
The appointment of Mr Shiv Shankar Menon as Foreign Secretary, who superseded 16 officers, has caused the first ripple in the Ministry of External Affairs with the resignation of Secretary (East) Rajiv Sikri.
Mr Sikri met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday before the latter’s departure for Brazil and Cuba and submitted his resignation in protest against his supersession by an officer two years his junior. Dr Manmohan Singh also holds additional charge as External Affairs Minister. Mr Sikri had met the Prime Minister on September 1; a day after Mr Menon’s appointment was announced.
A few more superseded IFS officers are said to be contemplating resignation in view of their supersession at the hands of Mr Menon (1972 batch), India’s High Commissioner in Pakistan. These include Mr Sikri’ wife, Ms Veena Sikri, who has been camping here for past more than one week.
Secretary (West) Shashi U Tripathi, another superseded officer, is currently travelling with the Prime Minister. Mr Menon is also a part of the Prime Minister’s official in view of a likely meeting between Dr Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on the sidelines of the NAM summit in Havana on September 15-16.
