'For Development': After Outrage, Kerala Chief Secretary Explains Controversial Appointment Of 'External Cooperation' Secretary

After facing a barrage of criticism from opposition parties, Kerala Chief Secretary Dr V Venu has offered clarification over the appointment of a foreign secretary for the state.

In a post on X, the Kerala Chief Secretary stated, "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?" 

Venu emphasised that there are more pressing issues for public discussion and dismissed the controversy as "fake news", as per a report by The Economic Times.

He explained that various foreign agencies, multilateral institutions, embassy officials, and delegations regularly interact with the Kerala state government and other state governments.

He noted, "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."

He further added, "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."

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also commented on the appointment, stating that there is nothing problematic about it. He noted that the Kerala government always designates someone as a focal point for such matters, emphasising the importance of addressing issues affecting the large Kerala diaspora.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party state president K Surendran criticised the appointment, calling it a "blatant overreach" and an infringement of the Union list of the Constitution.

Recently, Pinarayi Vijayan-led government had come under fire over appointment of IAS officer K Vasuki as the "state's secretary in charge of matters concerning external cooperation".