In a sudden development, veteran diplomat Shyam Saran has quit his job as Prime Minister's Special Envoy, following reported serious differences Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
"Shri Shyam Saran, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister for Indo-US nuclear issues and for Climate Change, has been permitted to demit office with effect from Sunday, March 14, 2010," a terse PMO press release said without throwing any light on the reasons for his departure.
64-year-old Saran, like Menon who belonged to the Foreign Service, declined to go into the reasons for his decision.
"Yes. I have quit. I had been thinking about it for quite some time. March 14th will be my last day in office," he told PTI. Asked if he was taking up any new assignment, he said "no".
Saran, who was first appointed as special envoy during the turbulent days of negotiation on the Indo-US nuclear deal and later on climate change, had developed differences with Ramesh in the run up to the climate change summit in Copenhagen.
He was said to have been opposed to the minister's moves for a voluntary declaration on reducing the intensity of emissions ahead of the summit.
After a visit to Beijing, Ramesh had announced in Parliament 25 per cent reduction in the intesity of emissions before going to Copenhagen. Saran felt it amounted to India diluting its position but Ramesh felt that it would help the country negotiate at the climate talks from a position of strength.
Ramesh could not be contacted for his comments.
Saran was succeeded as Foreign Secretary by Menon, who retired from service late last year and was appointed the National Security Adviser last month in place of M K Narayanan. Menon was also conferred the rank of Minister of State.
Soon there were reports that he was unhappy and that he could also be given MoS status.
Sources said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had offered Saran the rank of Minister of State but he thanked him and politely declined it. PTI
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