Mission officials transfer an administrative matter: Govt.

New Delhi, Oct 24 (UNI) The Government today said the transfer of some officials in the Indian mission in Beijing was a purely administrative matter and had nothing to do with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to China.

This was stated in the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma in response to a statement by Leader of the Opposition in the House Jaswant Singh in which he described as a serious matter the transfer of some officers from the Beijing mission on the eve of Prime Minister's visit to China.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Mr Singh said, "coming on the eve of the Prime Minister's visit to Beijing, the transfer of officers is an unusual development. It may have serious ramifications." Responding to Mr Singh's remarks, Mr Sharma said, "these are routine transfers and postings that are not related to the Prime Minister's visit." In this context, Mr Singh's statement is just a "storm in a tea cup", he added.

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