In an order dated 15 July 2024, the Kerala government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, appointed senior bureaucrat K Vasuki as Foreign Secretary in matters concerning external cooperation. This move has drawn significant criticism from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and political opponents.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a media briefing, emphasized that foreign affairs are exclusively under the Union government’s jurisdiction according to the Constitution of India. Jaiswal stated, “Foreign affairs is not a concurrent subject and definitely not a State subject. State governments should not intrude into matters beyond their constitutional jurisdiction.”
K Vasuki, currently serving as Secretary (Labour and Skills), will now coordinate external cooperation efforts. She will be assisted by the General Administration (Political) department and the resident commissioner of Kerala House in New Delhi to liaise with the MEA and Indian diplomatic missions abroad.
Kerala Govt appoints K Vasuki As ‘Foreign Secretary’ in Kerala State.
Is this constitutional? Kerala is not a foreign indipendent country, is it?
"STATE government has no mandate in foreign affairs. As per the same constitution that the INDI ALLIANCE keeps referring to.
This… pic.twitter.com/4c8rtXaX4v— Raman Malik🇮🇳 (मोदी का परिवार) (@ramanmalik) July 21, 2024
DMK Minister for Information Technology & Digital Services, PTR Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, took to his official X handle to comment on the “instances” where the Union government allegedly intruded on the State List. He wrote, “So what about the many instances in which the Union Govt has “intruded”, and even legislated on items in the State List (7th Schedule List II): Agriculture, Mining, State Borrowing & Debt, and so many others via condition-loaded CSS? One rule for us, another for you, as always?”
So what about the many instances in which the Union Govt has "intruded", and even legislated on items in the State List (7th Schedule List II): Agriculture, Mining, State Borrowing & Debt, and so many others via condition-loaded CSS?
One rule for us, another for you, as always? https://t.co/tett4J2W4m
— Dr P Thiaga Rajan (PTR) (@ptrmadurai) July 26, 2024
India is a country as a whole, and external affairs are always taken care of by the central government. By appointing the foreign secretary, Kerala is indicating that it is seemingly treading the path of separatism.
Establishing an external affairs representative in Kerala is ill-advised, even with limited responsibilities. It’s akin to a junior employee or a class teacher attempting to speak for the entire organization when the principal or management already represents the whole institution.
Notably, the central government remains the highest authority, regardless of complaints.
Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor found the move “fairly unusual.” Speaking to PTI, he said, “The fact is that foreign relations are controlled by the Union government and no state government has any independent foreign relations but it is entirely appropriate for state governments to work without Embassies abroad for matter involving their residents. Now, to give a specific responsibility of this nature to one official is fairly unusual. But 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.”
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