'Don't intrude in country's foreign affairs'; MEA pulls up Kerala govt over IAS Vasuki's 'foreign secretary' appointment

NEW DELHI: The Union Ministry of External Affairs came up against the Kerala government appointing senior IAS officer K Vasuki as 'foreign secretary' of state to improve international interactions.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said state governments should not interfere in matters beyond their jurisdiction. The Center pointed out that foreign affairs are not issues that come in the purview of the state.

"According to the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, foreign affairs and all matters relating to any foreign country are the sole prerogative of the Central Government. This is not in the concurrent list."

On July 15, the state government issued an order giving K Vasuki additional responsibility for matters related to foreign cooperation. The government claims that Vasuki has been appointed to coordinate the state government's activities with foreign agencies, and institutions in embassies of foreign countries.

The state unit of BJP had vehemently protested against the appointment and called it unconstitutional.

IAS officers have a code of conduct not to interact directly with embassies, consulates or employees of foreign nations. Kerala government had appointed former IFS officer Venu Rajamani as special duty officer in New Delhi in 2021 with the responsibility of foreign cooperation. Back then, the central government followed stoic silence and cared not to respond.

Chief Secretary Dr V Venu had earlier clarified that Vasuki was given the task to establish new relations for the development of the state, but not to interfere in foreign diplomatic relations or to encroach on the power of the Centre.

Kerala Kaumudi had reported about the plans undergoing within the government circles to revoke the appointment of IAS Vasuki.