NEW DELHI, 12 September 2006 — A senior Indian diplomat Rajiv Sikri has forwarded his resignation following the appointment of Shiv Shankar Menon as foreign secretary. Sikri is apparently upset that Menon, who is two-years his junior, superseded him to the post.
Sikri, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1970, has been holding the post of secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs. On Sunday Sikri met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and handed him his resignation, sources said yesterday.
When contacted Sikri refused to comment but arrived at his office yesterday. Sikri was considered one of the top contenders for the highly desired job in the foreign service, which has gone to Menon who joined the foreign service in 1972 and who is presently India’s high commissioner to Pakistan.
Besides Sikri, Menon superseded 14 other officers. Speculation is rife that some of these officers will also resign. Sikri had met the prime minister earlier on Sept. 1, a day after Menon’s appointment was announced, and conveyed his displeasure over being superseded.
