Close X
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
ADVT 
India

Stories 'Planted' In Media To Tarnish My Reputation, Sujatha Singh Says

Darpan News Desk IANS, 30 Jan, 2015 01:16 PM
    Two days after she was abruptly relieved of her post, former foreign secretary Sujatha Singh said Friday that her reputation has been tarnished by adverse stories coming out about her on social media and that "it was not necessary to get low and dirty".
     
    Singh, who sought early retirement after the Narendra Modi government appointed S. Jaishankar to replace her Wednesday night, told NDTV news channel in an interview that she believed in team work and in strengthening the institutional framework of the external affairs ministry.
     
    Without referring to her successor, she said she has always believed in keeping a low profile and if she had wanted she could have beaten the drum about her achievements all these years.
     
    At the outset, Singh said that she was doing the interview "because I felt that I needed to do it, because I want an honourable exit; I don't meant a tenure as an ambassador, I don't mean a tenure in the UPSC, I mean an exit in keeping with what I have been as an individual, in keeping with what I have been as an officer, with what I have been as a foreign secretary".
     
    She said the "commentary" that she has seen about herself over the past two days "has pained me deeply. I believe that it was not necessary to get low and dirty".
     
    "I wanted to give in my papers and leave, without any ceremony and without any fuss, but unfortunately that has not been the case, and I believe that my reputation has been tarnished. I believe the social media has gone into overdrive and I believe that there are stories that are being planted that tarnish whatever I have been as an officer over these years in service," she said.
     
    She said that her exit was "probably a decision that had been taken, and that nothing I could have done would have made a difference".
     
    Taking credit for the successful foreign policy overdrive of the Modi government, she said: "The first eight months of the new government's foreign policy engagements have been intensely successful. They have been the most charged and successful engagement of any new government that you can think of. And they went beautifully. 
     
    "It was the MEA that delivered, and it was a team of dedicated officers, men and women in my ministry, and in our embassies and posts overseas who did the meticulous preparation and who delivered under my leadership. I brought it all together."
     
    On the just-concluded visit of US President Barack Obama, Singh said she had worked very closely with the PMO. 
     
    "All the elements that came together. How many ministries were involved... The administrative arrangements and the liability clause for the civil nuclear deal - I gave directions, I gave guidance, I gave advice, I coordinated it very closely with the PMO while doing this," she said.
     
    She said despite the intensive work her ministry put to make the foreign visits and diplomatic engagements successful, there was "negative feedback from time to time on what the MEA was doing" but she was told not to take it personally as it happens with other ministries too. 
     
    "I knew things were not going quite right because I did not have the one-on-one interaction with the prime minister that I had repeatedly asked for," she said, and added that she was sounded out three weeks ago if she wanted to move to another post with a tenure.
     
    Singh said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj conveyed to her 2 p.m. Wednesday that Modi wanted Jaishankar in her place.
     
    "The EAM called me at 2 p.m. and told me she had some not so pleasant news to give me... that the PM wants Dr Jaishankar as his foreign secretary. I think she was a little surprised that I wasn't more taken aback, because at the back of my mind, I had my letter for my early retirement ready. I was earlier planning to have a letter of resignation ready but I was told I would lose my retirement benefits."
     
    Singh said she wrote her letter, saying "that as instructed by the PM, I hereby request for early retirement". Then she first informed her husband and her parents because she did not want them to hear from the media, went back to her office and cleared her desk of all pending files, before submitting her letter to the minister at between 7 and 8 p.m.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Obama's India Visit: From 'Natural Partner' To 'Best Partner'

    Obama's India Visit: From 'Natural Partner' To 'Best Partner'
    India and the US saw the forging of a closer partnership, helped in great measure by the personal and visible bonding between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama, as the two sides elevated their ties with a new 'Declaration of Friendship' and also managed to pull off a "breakthrough" agreement on their stalled civil nuclear deal.

    Obama's India Visit: From 'Natural Partner' To 'Best Partner'

    Rahul Gandhi Hits Delhi Campaign Trail, Attacks Modi For Promoting His 'PR'

    Rahul Gandhi Hits Delhi Campaign Trail, Attacks Modi For Promoting His 'PR'
    Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi Tuesday sought to strengthen the party's campaign for the Delhi assembly polls through a road show where he accused Prime Minster Narendra Modi of promoting his "PR" (public relations).

    Rahul Gandhi Hits Delhi Campaign Trail, Attacks Modi For Promoting His 'PR'

    Congress rattled by Obama's successful visit: BJP

    Congress rattled by Obama's successful visit: BJP
    The BJP Tuesday said the Congress was "cut off from the reality of changes" and "rattled by the successful visit" of US President Barack Obama, following criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he was busy doing his own "PR" (public relations) and not anything concrete.

    Congress rattled by Obama's successful visit: BJP

    Will Bring Jan Lokpal, Says Arvind Kejriwal

    Will Bring Jan Lokpal, Says Arvind Kejriwal
    Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday said his party was still committed to bring anti-graft Jan Lokpal legislation in the capital.

    Will Bring Jan Lokpal, Says Arvind Kejriwal

    Digvijaya Singh Dares Modi To Follow Obama's Advice On Religion

    Digvijaya Singh Dares Modi To Follow Obama's Advice On Religion
    Alluding to US President Barack Obama's message advocating every individual's freedom to practice religion, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh Tuesday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take inspiration and follow it in the country.

    Digvijaya Singh Dares Modi To Follow Obama's Advice On Religion

    ' Mann Ki Baat': Modi, Obama Open Hearts, Share Values In A Joint Radio Address

    ' Mann Ki Baat': Modi, Obama Open Hearts, Share Values In A Joint Radio Address
    It was history being made on radio. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama addressed a joint “Mann ki Baat” programme on radio, talking about their humble origins, their inspirations, on women empowerment and youth and values shared by two of world's largest democracies.

    ' Mann Ki Baat': Modi, Obama Open Hearts, Share Values In A Joint Radio Address