Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fired India's highest-ranking diplomat and replaced her with the ambassador to the US, a day after a successful visit by President Barack Obama.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar took over today as the new Foreign Secretary. Analysts say his appointment underscores the prime minister's intent for control over foreign affairs, a department that has seen much activity since he took power in May last year.
The abrupt sacking of Sujatha Singh has left her "upset and livid", say sources close to the 60-year-old.
Ms Singh's tenure has been curtailed, the government said on Wednesday night, with seven months to go before retirement. The last time the head of the elite foreign service was removed was in the late 1980s. ('No Individual Larger Than Institutions,' Says Outgoing Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh in Farwell Note)
Her removal was criticised by the Congress party, which led the government that appointed Ms Singh and was voted out last year. "Why have you replaced the head of the foreign service so unceremoniously? The government needs to explain," said the party's Manish Tewari.
They also say she has not been credited enough for organizing the presence of major Asian leaders at the PM's swearing-in, and ensuring that the spotlight on Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif's visit did not leave the others feeling neglected.
During Ms Singh's tenure under the previous government, ties between India and the US plunged to their worst in a decade over the arrest of Devyani Khobragade, a junior Indian diplomat in New York for alleged visa fraud.
He built a strong personal relationship with President Obama on a trip to the White House last year and hosted him this week as the guest of honour at this week's Republic Day Parade.
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