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It's over, life goes on, says ex-foreign secretary Sujatha Singh

By Super
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Feb 1: Ex-foreign secretary Sujatha Singh said the decision of replacing her by S Jaishankar, the former ambassador to the USA, did not surprise her.

Speaking to Headlines Today's Karan Thapar in Nothing But Truth, Singh said the unsettled atmosphere in the foreign ministry made her convinced that she would have to go one day. However, having said that, Singh, daughter of former IPS officer and governor TV Rajeshwar, said she had played her part in the functioning of the external affairs minister. Singh took over as the foreign secretary in August 2013 was due to retire in August this year.

sujatha-singh-narendra-modi

She said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had conveyed her the not-so-happy message.

When asked whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi had any say on this, Singh said she had no idea about it. Praising PM Modi for his decisiveness and incisiveness, Singh said she had regular interactions with the prime minister and even after Modi took over, Union minister Arun Jaitley had sought her opinion on the idea of inviting the SAARC leaders to the swearing-in ceremony of the new government.

Singh said the idea of Modi's visit to Bhutan was her idea and that she had played significant role in the prime minister's visit to Japan.

The veteran diplomat said media reports that the PM was not happy with her role in not following up on his visit to Japan were completely out of place. She also said that she was told about doing some other job but she refused to receive the idea.

Did the sudden exit affect her? A smiling Singh said she has gone on with life and will focus on gardening and weaving. "It's over," she said.

OneIndia News

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