“Part of effort to establish new relations for development of state”, says Kerala chief secy on controversy over appointment of ‘foreign secretary’

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 21 (ANI): After the BJP and the Congress hit out at the Pinarayi Vijayan government for appointing IAS office K Vasuki as ‘state’s secretary in charge of matters concerning external cooperation’, Kerala Chief Secretary, Dr V Venu, clarified saying the appointment was part of an effort to establish new relations for the development of the state.

The official said that there were more important issues the public could discuss and that they should not waste time with “fake news” like this.

Taking to his social media handle, the Kerala Chief Secretary said, “No, those sitting in government are not ignorant of the basic fact that foreign affairs are the subject of the central government. And what did the government mean by this order?” he added.

“Many foreign agencies, multilateral agencies, institutions working in embassies of foreign countries, and delegations are in regular contact with the Kerala state government as well as other state governments,” he further said.

Adding to his explanation, he said, “Through these transactions, cooperative relations are established in commercial, industrial, and cultural fields. When the Chief Minister or Ministers of the state go abroad, many representatives visit Kerala as a result of the discussions held there and seek new contacts.”

The Kerala Chief Secretary said the move was not meant to engage in diplomatic relations, which was under the central government’s jurisdiction.

“In earlier years, these were seen as the responsibility of separate departments. As the number of discussions like this increased, it was evident that much better coordination was needed. A division called external cooperation is a system created some time ago for that purpose, ” he said.

“The government did these things not to engage in diplomatic relations with foreign countries and to interfere in matters falling under the jurisdiction of the central government but as part of an effort to establish new relations for the development of the state,” he further stated.

Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also reacted to the appointment of IAS Officer K Vasuki as the state’s secretary in charge of matters concerning external cooperation.

Tharoor said that there was nothing unusual and that the appointment of the young officer was a focal point of responsibility within the government.

Speaking to ANI, Tharoor said, “As you know, the Kerala government says there’s nothing unusual. They always have somebody as a focal point for this. It is true that because of the very large Kerala diaspora, several issues affecting the welfare of Kerala in foreign countries come to the attention of the people’s representatives. That doesn’t mean that the state government can even think of substituting itself for the authority of the Centre.”

“Foreign affairs in the Constitution are the responsibility only of the central government and all external relationships are mediated through the Union government. So I would see the appointment of this young officer as a focal point of responsibility within the government,” he added.

Earlier, BJP State President K Surendran slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government, saying that it is a “blatant overreach” and a violation of the Union List of the Constitution.

In a post on social media platform X, Surendran said, “The appointment of an IAS officer as ‘Foreign Secretary’ in Kerala by CM Pinarayi Vijayan is a blatant overreach and a violation of the Union list of our Constitution. The LDF government has no mandate for foreign affairs. This unconstitutional move sets a dangerous precedent. Is CM Pinarayi Vijayan trying to establish Kerala as a separate nation?”

The Kerala government on July 15 ‘appointed’ the senior IAS officer as a secretary in charge of “matters concerning external cooperation”.

The order stated that the secretary (labor and skills) K Vasuki “will hold the additional charge of the matters connected with external cooperation.”

The order mentioned that the Resident Commissioner at Kerala House in the national capital will be supporting Vasuki in matters concerning external cooperation and will liaise with the Ministry of External Affairs, Missions, and Embassies.