PM's aide on climate change Saran to quit

New Delhi, Feb 19(ANI): The Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Climate Change, Shyam Saran, has reportedly put in his papers, and is expected to quit on March 14.

Saran was considered a key aide of Dr. Manmohan Singh.

No formal clarification has been made over the issue, a news channel reported Friday evening.

Speculations is rife that Saran quit after being pipped to the National Security Advisor's (NSA) post by Shiv Shankar Menon.

A section of the ruling UPA also felt that Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was competent enough to negotiate climate issues with the international community.

Saran is a 1970 batch Indian Foreign Service officer and also served as Foreign Secretary from July 2004 to September 2006.

He has also served as Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Indonesia and Myanmar, High Commissioner to Mauritius, Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office, Deputy Chief of Mission in Tokyo and Counsellor in the Indian Embassy in Beijing. (ANI)