New Delhi : MEA reminds state government’s not to transgress into foreign affairs following the ‘foreign secretary’ appointment by Kerala government
The controversial appointment circular by the Kerala government which mentioned the decision to create a post called ‘Secretary for External Cooperation’ is beyond their constitutional jurisdiction, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Constitution of India under the 7th Schedule, List 1 – Union List, Item 10, clearly specifies that foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country are the sole prerogative of the Union Government. It is not a concurrent subject and definitely not a state subject. Our position is that state governments should not intrude in matters that are beyond their constitutional jurisdiction.
It was on July 15 that the Kerala government issued an order giving K. Vasuki, Secretary in the Labour and Skills Department, the additional charge of matters connected with External Cooperation.
BJP state president K Surendran had hit out at the Kerala government decision to come up with the circular and had termed it a move to ‘create a separate country within the country’.
“Pinarayi Vijayan and his government through the circular is trying to create an impression that Kerala is a seperate country. It is really shocking that the state government which clearly knows the administrative powers of the MEA had come up with such a circular and that too appointing an IAS officer for the post”, said K Surendran at a press meet on July 21st when the news first appeared in an English daily.
State chief secretary clarification
After the BJP and the Congress hit out at the Pinarayi Vijayan government for appointing IAS office K Vasuki as ‘state’s secretary in charge of matters concerning external cooperation’, Kerala Chief Secretary, Dr V Venu, clarified saying the appointment was part of an effort to establish new relations for the development of the state.
The official said that there were more important issues the public could discuss and that they should not waste time with “fake news”.
“Many foreign agencies, multilateral agencies, institutions working in embassies of foreign countries, and delegations are in regular contact with the Kerala state government as well as other state governments,” he further said.
The circular had led to a major debate in the social media where a large section of netizens criticised the alleged high handedness of the state government by reportedly trying to create a post of foreign secretary and thus appointing a serving IAS officer to the post.
Meanwhile, Congress leader and MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor has attempted to downplay the entire episode.
“It is appropriate for the state to manage issues involving their residents abroad. Foreign relations are controlled by the Union government and no state government has any independent foreign relations. However, it is appropriate for state governments to manage issues involving their residents abroad,” Tharoor said.
The controversial appointment circular by the Kerala government which mentioned the decision to create a post called ‘Secretary for External Cooperation’ is beyond their constitutional jurisdiction, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
