Sujatha Singh: PMO wanted me to have no reference of PM Modi in my resignation letter
Singh said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had informed her on January 28 that the PM wanted to appoint S Jaishankar as the Foreign Secretary. Watch video | Full transcript
Her offer to take early retirement was rejected as Prime Minister's Office wanted to delete a reference that she was doing so on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, whose tenure was abruptly "curtailed", said on Saturday.
Singh said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had informed her on January 28 afternoon that the PM wanted to appoint S Jaishankar as the Foreign Secretary.
She said she had sent a letter on that evening seeking early retirement "as instructed by the Prime Minister". But she got a call from the Prime Minister's Office "asking me if I would consider deleting it (the words)"
The former FS said she made it clear that "I would not" delete reference to the Prime Minister. "It was on the instructions of the Prime Minister and as a good civil servant, we follow instructions," she told Karan Thapar on Headlines Today. Watch video
To a question, Singh claimed someone within the government was planting stories against her in the media and maintained that she does not believe in leaking privileged information to journalists.
The career diplomat made it clear that the "chapter was over" for her and she would concentrate on gardening and weaving, indicating that she was not looking for another opening.
The full interview
Karan Thapar: Mrs Singh let's start with government's decision to curtail your tenure as foreign secretary, to use government's language. How and when was this news communicated to you?
Sujatha Singh: I got a call from the External Affairs Minister's office that she (Sushma Swaraj) wanted to see me at 2 PM on January 28. I had a feeling that I knew what was it about. Because normally she is very clear as to what she wants to say. So, I went across and I started to talk about the next days day's briefing about the parliamentary select committee and she basically looked at me and said that I don't have some pleasant news to convey to you and this is that the Prime Minister wants S Jaishankar as his Foreign Secretary. I said, "Okay, what would you like me to do. Should I give in my papers?" And then we talked some more and she was very gracious and after that I went and informed my family and went to office, cleared my desk and gave in my letter. Read the full interview here