Thiruvananthapuram – In a move that has sparked significant debate, the Kerala government has assigned additional responsibilities related to external cooperation to K Vasuki, Secretary of the Labour and Skills Department. The decision, issued via a government order dated July 15, has drawn varied reactions from political leaders and experts.
Unusual Appointment
Senior Congress leader and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor termed the appointment as “fairly unusual.” He clarified that while it is appropriate for state governments to coordinate with embassies for matters involving their residents, the bureaucrat in question, K Vasuki, holds no independent foreign relationship responsibilities. “It is very clearly understood that she has no foreign relationship responsibility of her own but it would be basically through Indian government’s bodies,” Tharoor told PTI.
Government Order Details
The order states, “Dr. K Vasuki IAS (KL 2008), Secretary, Labour and Skills Department will hold the additional charge of the matters connected with the External Co-operation. The officer will coordinate and supervise all the matters in this regard and incidental thereto, in addition to the existing charges.” Additionally, the Resident Commissioner at Kerala House in New Delhi will support Vasuki in these matters, liaising with the Ministry of External Affairs, missions, and embassies.
Political Reactions
The decision has been met with criticism from the BJP. State president K Surendran labeled the move as a “blatant overreach” and a violation of the Union List of the Constitution. In a social media post on X, Surendran questioned whether Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan aims to establish Kerala as a “separate nation.”
“The LDF government has no mandate in foreign affairs. This unconstitutional move sets a dangerous precedent. Is CM @pinarayivijayan trying to establish Keralam as a separate nation?” Surendran said.
Justifications and Clarifications
Shashi Tharoor further elaborated that while foreign relations are under the purview of the Union government, state governments can still engage with embassies abroad concerning their residents. However, he emphasized that the responsibility given to Vasuki is unusual but within the broader framework of working through Indian government bodies.
The controversy continues to unfold as different political and bureaucratic entities weigh in on the implications of this appointment.
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