Kerala appointing foreign cooperation official: Centre fires
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New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that states must not intrude into Foreign, which is the prerogative of the Centre. The ministry added that states must stay away from matters beyond their constitutional jurisdiction, Scroll reported.
The ministry issued the statement in response to the Kerala government appointing Indian Administrative Service officer K Vasuki as a secretary in charge of “external cooperation” on July 15.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a press briefing on Thursday that the Union List in the Constitution clearly specifies that foreign affairs and all matters are the sole prerogative of the Centre.
“Let’s be very clear, the Constitution of India, under the Seventh Schedule, List-I, which is the Union List, Item Number 10, clearly specifies that foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into relation with any foreign country are the sole prerogative of the Union Government,” Scroll quoted Jaiswal.
Jaiswal continued that foreign affairs are neither subject to a concurrent list nor a state list.
The BJP, which is among the opposition in Kerala, criticized the Pinarayi Vijayan government over the “external cooperation” appointment. However, Kerala Secretary Venu V said on July 20 that the division to handle external cooperation was created some time ago for better coordination with delegates from foreign agencies and other countries coming to the state.
The chief secretary said that it was not the state government’s decision to appoint a “foreign secretary” as such, and the Centre is aware that foreign affairs is a subject solely handled by the Centre.
There was an accident in Kuwait involving a building catching fire in June. The incident had killed 23 people beloinging to Kerala. When Kerala health minister Veena George sought clearance for her visit to Kuwait, the MEA refused.
