Shyam Saran quits over seniority issue

Veteran diplomat Shyam Saran, a key architect of the nuclear deal and involved in many a turning point in India’s foreign policy, will quit the Prime Minister’s Office next month. Twice, Saran, who is the PM’s Special Envoy on Climate Change, came close to it but was stopped by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

However, after his colleague and junior in the foreign service Shivshankar Menon was made National Security Advisor, Saran moved a note saying he would like to be relieved of his duties before March 15. On Friday, he was “permitted” to demit office on March 14.

Late last month, after former NSA M K Narayanan was asked to move to Kolkata as Governor, Saran is said to have indicated to the PM that perhaps the time had come for him to leave as well. The PM is said to have told him that he had “plans” for him and wished that he stay on.

Soon, Saran was offered a Minister of State rank — this would have brought him at par with the NSA and also resolved the issue of Menon being higher in rank. But this elevation came with no substantive change in profile. Saran would have continued as the PM’s pointsperson on climate change and advisor on border infrastructure.

Saran had visited areas along the China and Pakistan border and suggested wide-ranging measures for improvement of infrastructure. His was the first comprehensive report on the subject and is in the process of implementation now.

The ambiguity over his role now that Environment minister Jairam Ramesh is driving the country's climate policy, too reportedly hastened Saran’s decision. The delay in an official announcement created an embarrassing situation for the former diplomat as speculation of a ``rethink'' began to swirl.

- Asian Tribune -