'State Can't Even Think Of...': Shashi Tharoor Plays Down 'Kerala Foreign Secretary' Row

IAS officer Vasuki was given additional charge as 'secretary in charge of matters concerning external cooperation' by Kerala government order dated July 15.

Shashi Tharoor said that he would see the appointment of the young officer as a focal point kind of responsibility within the government.

Source : Facebook

Days after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor backed Kerala government over the appointment of senior IAS officer K Vasuki as 'secretary in charge of matters concerning external cooperation,' Thiruvananthapuram MP stated that Kerala government cannot replace the authority of the central government in foreign affairs. Tharoor emphasised that foreign relations are constitutionally the central government's responsibility.

IAS officer Vasuki was given additional charge as 'secretary in charge of matters concerning external cooperation' by Kerala government order dated July 15.

On Kerala government's appointment, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said, "As you know, the Kerala govt says there's nothing unusual. They always have somebody as a focal point for this. It is true that because of the very large Kerala diaspora, a number of issues affecting the welfare of Kerala in foreign countries comes to the attention of the people's representatives."

"That doesn't mean that the state govt can even think of substituting itself for the authority of the Center. Foreign affairs in the Constitution is the responsibility only of the central government and all external relationships are mediated through the Union government. So I would see the appointment of this young officer as a focal point kind of responsibility within the government," he said.

#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram: On Kerala Government appoints IAS Officer K Vasuki as the state's 'secretary in charge of matters concerning external cooperation', Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says "As you know, the Kerala govt says there's nothing unusual. They always have somebody… pic.twitter.com/oJ4OkBJlZB

— ANI (@ANI) July 21, 2024

 

 

 
On Saturday, however, the BJP in Kerala criticised the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for appointing IAS officer K Vasuki with additional responsibilities. The BJP labeled the appointment as a "foreign secretary of the state." In response, Chief Secretary Venu V dismissed the criticism, stating that the appointment was nothing new.