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| Menon's rise intensifies lobbying for plum postings | | | SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, SEPT. 14: The expression of deep resentment by senior officers of the Ministry of External Affairs against the appointment of a junior officer as India's new Foreign Secretary notwithstanding, the government seems determined not to disturb Shiv Shankar Menon after his appointment as the sucessor to the present Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran. Menon superseded as many as 16 senior diplomats.
Menon's appointment has, interestingly, led to the intensification of lobbyhing for plum diplomatic positions to important countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka and China. Menon's appointment has created much heartburn among senior diplomats overlooked for the top job, with Rajiv Sikri, Secretary (East), seeking voluntary retirement in protest against the move. Sikri met Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, before he left on Sunday for Brazil and Cuba and sought voluntary retirement while expressing unhappiness over being overlooked for the post of Foreign Secretary.
Sikri, an IFS officer of the 1970 batch who has been Secretary (East) since 2004, was the seniormost officer after Saran when the government announced on August 31 the appointment of Menon, of the 1972 batch, as Foreign Secretary. At least half a dozen other senior diplomats are also unhappy with the manner in which their seniority was overlooked while making the appointment of Menon, diplomatic sources said.
The four secretaries in the headquarters Sikri, Shashi Tripathi, Secretary (West), Atish Sinha, Secretary and Dean, Foreign Service Institute, and Rinzing Wangdi, Secretary, Economic Relations are all senior to Menon and will in all probability be shifted out of headquarters in South Block.
The 16 diplomats whom Menon has superseded have the option to resign, seek voluntary retirement or opt for ambassadorial positions as, according to seniority rules, they need not serve at headquarters under their junior in service. Lobbying has intensified for key ambassadorial positions, including the coveted post of High Commissioner to Pakistan that will fall vacant after Menon takes charge as Foreign Secretary on October 1.
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