New Delhi:
In a sudden development, veteran diplomat Shyam Saran has quit his job as Prime Minister's Special Envoy, a step taken days after Shiv Shankar Menon's appointment as National Security Adviser.
"Shri Shyam Saran, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister for Indo-US nuclear issues and for Climate Change, has been permitted to demit office with effect from Friday, March 14, 2010," a terse PMO press release said without throwing any light on the reasons for his departure.
Sixty four-year-old Saran, like Menon who belonged to the Foreign Service, declined to give reasons for his decision.
"Yes. I have quit. I had been thinking about it for quite some time. March 14th will be my last day in office," he said. Asked if he was taking up any new assignment, he said "no".
Saran was first appointed as special envoy during the turbulent days of negotiation on the Indo-US nuclear deal and later on climate change soon after he had retired as Foreign Secretary more than three years ago.
Saran was succeeded as Foreign Secretary by Menon, who retired from service late last year and was appointed the National Security Adviser last month in place of M K Narayanan. Menon was also conferred the rank of Minister of State.
Soon there were reports that he was unhappy and that he could also be given MoS status. There were also reports that in the run-up to the Climate Change summit in Copenhagen last year Saran had some differences with Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
Saran was said to have been opposed to India announcing any voluntary cut in carbon emissions ahead of the Copenhagen summit.
"Shri Shyam Saran, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister for Indo-US nuclear issues and for Climate Change, has been permitted to demit office with effect from Friday, March 14, 2010," a terse PMO press release said without throwing any light on the reasons for his departure.
Sixty four-year-old Saran, like Menon who belonged to the Foreign Service, declined to give reasons for his decision.
"Yes. I have quit. I had been thinking about it for quite some time. March 14th will be my last day in office," he said. Asked if he was taking up any new assignment, he said "no".
Saran was first appointed as special envoy during the turbulent days of negotiation on the Indo-US nuclear deal and later on climate change soon after he had retired as Foreign Secretary more than three years ago.
Saran was succeeded as Foreign Secretary by Menon, who retired from service late last year and was appointed the National Security Adviser last month in place of M K Narayanan. Menon was also conferred the rank of Minister of State.
Soon there were reports that he was unhappy and that he could also be given MoS status. There were also reports that in the run-up to the Climate Change summit in Copenhagen last year Saran had some differences with Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
Saran was said to have been opposed to India announcing any voluntary cut in carbon emissions ahead of the Copenhagen summit.
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