US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell resigns

New Delhi, March 31: In a sudden development, US Ambassador to India

has resigned from her post, days after media speculation that she may be shipped out.

"US Ambassador to India Nancy J Powerll announced in a US Mission Town Hall meeting March 31 that she has submitted her resignation to President Obama and, as planned for some time, will retire to her home in Delaware before the end of May," an announcement in the US Embassy website said on Sunday night.

No differences, says Obama Administration

The Obama Administration on Monday refuted reports that US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell has resigned because of any differences with it and instead said she is ending a distinguished thirty-seven year career.

The Obama Administration rubbished claims that differences led Powell to quit

"Not any truth to your question about differences – she is retiring after 37 years of service," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Marie Harf said when asked about reports that Powell has resigned due to differences with the US Government. Powell today announced in a US Mission Town Hall meeting that she has submitted her resignation to President Barack Obama. As planned for some time, she will retire to her home in Delaware before the end of May, Harf said.

"She (Powell) is ending a distinguished thirty-seven year career that has included postings as US Ambassador to Uganda, Ghana, Pakistan, Nepal and India as well as service in Canada, Togo, Bangladesh, and Washington, where she was most recently Director General of the Foreign Service," Harf said. Powell was appointed US ambassador to India on April 19, 2012. Normally the tenure of a US Ambassador is for two years.

Powell had met BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in February, giving birth to speculation that the US was reconsidering a change in its visa policy towards the BJP leader. The US had denied visa to Modi in 2005 over the Gujara riots that took place three years prior to that.

[Read: Modi will be automatically eligible for visa id he becomes PM: US report]

PTI