Sujatha Singh's removal: Ousted Indian official speaks out
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NEW DELHI: India’s ousted foreign secretary Sujatha Singh has hit out at the government saying her reputation was being maligned.
“My reputation is being maligned, my record being trashed. Why was this necessary?” Ms Singh told NDTV news channel.
Ms Singh was removed on Wednesday night by the government with seven months to go before retirement, and replaced by S. Jaishankar, the former envoy to the US, just after a successful visit by President Barack Obama.
Take a look: Indian foreign secretary removed
“It was a decision that had already been taken and nothing I could have done would have made a difference,” she said.
With Pakistan, Ms Singh was at the heart of controversy when she became the diplomat whose visit to Islamabad was cancelled in August by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, starting a new round of border tensions.
Ms Singh revealed that she was summoned on Wednesday by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who told her that Mr Modi wanted Mr Jaishankar as his Foreign Secretary.
“I said, as instructed by the prime minister, I hereby request for early retirement,” said Ms Singh.
“Why has it become so low and dirty?” the 60-year-old officer questioned, and told NDTV that she wanted to set the record straight.
“I felt I needed to do this because I want an honourable exit. I don’t mean a tenure as Ambassador or a tenure in UPSC (Union Public Service Commission). I mean an exit which is in keeping with what I have been as an individual, what I have been as an officer, as a Foreign Secretary,” she said.
Ms Singh said she deserved more credit than she had been given for driving foreign policy over the past eight months, and referred to what was described as a major takeaway of President Obama’s visit this week - the agreement on the nuclear deal.
“Shall I start by claiming credit for working on the nitty gritty of the recent understandings we arrived at on the civil nuclear deal with the US? The liability and the administrative issues? Believe me, I was fully involved in guiding the discussions, taking decisions on the line to take, on what to do and what not to do. I coordinated very closely with the Prime Minister’s Office,” she said.
“This government has charged a great deal on the foreign policy front over the past 8 months. None of this would have happened with the PM (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) or the EAM (External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj) operating on their own, in a vacuum.”
The officer confirmed reports that she had been offered an exit last year. “I was sounded out in December as to whether I’d be interested in a three or five year Constitutional position. I declined because of my belief that my responsibility was to the Ministry and to my Service,” she told NDTV.
Published in Dawn January 31st, 2015
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Comments (80) Closed
Jan 31, 2015 07:17am
She was either part of the solution for better US-India relations, or part of the deadlock.
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Jan 31, 2015 07:21am
The public has a right yo know why and how she was incompetent
Yes it's necessary
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Jan 31, 2015 07:36am
Mr Modi has very clearly stated in his speech while becoming the PM , If you are working in Govt office you are doing SERVICE to the nation , if not done properly , leave of get fired. So many Governor who had bad reputation were asked to resign or get fired. Which is best thing to do. Even the minister who did not showed up in the parliament (rajya shabha) were told if you dont have time give your seat to someone who can attend
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Jan 31, 2015 07:43am
Who are lazy ,lethargic ,arrogant ,inefficient ,corrupt officials/ministers have no place in Modi's government.unlike previous govt only honest and most efficient officers finds place in key central govt posts.
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Jan 31, 2015 07:46am
It is not one person's reputation that matters, it is the countries best interest that counts.
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Jan 31, 2015 07:48am
Well done.. Mr PM has started doing what no other politician can do- awarding merit... Modi Sarkar is a meritocracy.... Top Talent needs to be at the Top.... Baggage should be dropped... Sentiments or "respect" of a beurocrat is not above Indian interests.... Thank you Mr Modi offer not indulging in nepotism and political appeasement....
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Jan 31, 2015 07:52am
@Barry It is not to the duty of the govt explain about the inefficiency of the officials or ministers before removing him .Modi has told to his office officials that if you work for 10 hrs then I work for 12 hrs ,but most of his officials are working more than 14 hrs
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Jan 31, 2015 07:55am
Its a different ballgame altogether in New Delhi now.We have a no nonsense and a pro-active PM.If you don't perform then you are sacked.Officials may complain and whine but this is the true reality now.
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Jan 31, 2015 08:33am
There is absolutely NO job security under Modi, the other people in his cabinet should also be ready for early exits.
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Jan 31, 2015 08:46am
@Sunil USA India is still waiting for the services from PM Narendra Modi, still not delivered anything concrete yet. He promised to bring back the black money, one of the agenda, only to name few, who have business worldwide. Otherwise, all he is doing is travel, making big speeches in big forums. Modi promised to develop Kashmir, at the time of polls, and there is lack of kerosene, Kashmiris are suffering from harsh winter.
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Jan 31, 2015 08:53am
@Dwaraka nath Modi's government itself is full of dishonest people. Smriti Irani, the HRD minister, falsified her education qualifications. Amit Shah may be cleared by the courts, for triple murder, but many know he is behind. Seven of twenty ministers of Modi are facing prosecution, and at least five of them are facing rape and loot.
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Jan 31, 2015 08:55am
@Dwaraka nath There is, called RTI, (right to information) government is elected by the people for the people.
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Jan 31, 2015 08:56am
Look all the Indians supporting the Modi actions Jay Jay Jashankar. There is no credit being given to the ousted lady for her services she rendered for her country. First offered a BAIT,on refusal,shunted out.What a"non corrupt and pro-active government"!!!!!
Had she not done spade work for Obama, Indo-US deals,there would have been no progress.
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Jan 31, 2015 08:57am
@Bachabassi PM Narendra Modi is going to complete one year, and still has not delivered anything yet. Arun Jaitely the finance minister, claims the prices of many things have come down, its because of the oil, tumbling down.
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Jan 31, 2015 09:25am
Pakistan should immediate sack an official or two in tit for tat approach towards India's acts.
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Jan 31, 2015 09:43am
@Sunil RTI act is to protect the rights of the citizen/employee but no employee shall not have rights to demand any particular post .only seniority is not the criteria for any post .Me too served in state govt as an officer , the channel who made hue and cry over the issue has given the explanation to the public for the removal of any of his employee without notice ?
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Jan 31, 2015 09:49am
@Sunil for 7 months of term you call as 1 year ? how many times you asked the previous govt which run for 10 continuous years about the implementation of developments as promised election manifesto ? no govt will have magic stick to implement all promises overnight
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Jan 31, 2015 09:51am
Ms Sujata Singh was working for a female boss. Why could not her boss represent her case more forcefully with the PMO staff or Pm himself? It is still a man's world.
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Jan 31, 2015 09:56am
Perform better for a better future.
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Jan 31, 2015 10:23am
ultimately its is the Government's prerogative.
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Jan 31, 2015 10:33am
Modi mean business. Failures are not welcome here.
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Jan 31, 2015 10:42am
Sujatha Singh's statement smacks of narcissism and megalomania." ... my responsibility was to the Ministry and to my Service..." implies that she considered her self as independent power centre not subject to Executive authority. IFS and EAM are enabling mechanism(s), not independent power centres. It is an open secret that Dr. Manmohan wanted Dr. Jaishankar as Foreign Secretary, it was Sonia Gandhi who weighed in in favour of Sujata Singh daughter of T.V. Rajeswar a hanger-on and loyal camp follower of Sonia Gandhi. Good riddance. There is an old Hindustani saying " Khisiani Billi khamba noche"
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Jan 31, 2015 10:43am
Well Modi dont care who you are, He needs result. And New person is much more capable.
Well done MODI for clearing RED TAPE bugs prom system.
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Jan 31, 2015 10:48am
@Barry
Why? because she wants to indulge UPA chairperson sonia ji & was against the relation between India & Israel. I say PM done good Job.
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Jan 31, 2015 10:50am
It could be a news in Pakistan if mr Sayed Akbaruddin was removed. But even if a non muslim bureaucrat is removed then it is frontpage news in Pakistan. This is why I stopped reading Indian new portals. Pakistani news websites are more Indian than Indian. I see bollywood, Missiles, Modi, Where two kids fought in India, where hostel boy exchanged hot words in India, everything can be found here. I Appreciate how much Modi -Obama episode was covered here. and still articles are coming.
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Jan 31, 2015 11:00am
@Vikram
Yup, Modi needs to be given credit for shaking slow beaurocracy.
Babu's of New Delhi are in a lot of stress after Modi became PM because he works 18 hour a day.
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Jan 31, 2015 11:12am
@rambo funny
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Jan 31, 2015 11:13am
Rambo, its funny
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Jan 31, 2015 11:14am
@Barry - The public has no right to know. She is not an elected representative of the people. Any government officer serves at the pleasure of the PM. She was not aligned to Modi's ideas of foreign policy. She was given options for ambassadorship and UPSC member. But she declined. So she was fired.
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Jan 31, 2015 11:34am
Jaishankar, the new foreign secretary was to retire from service on Jan 31 and one way of retaining him longer was by giving him this position. Even the previous PM Manmohan wanted him to be his foreign secretary but could not push the case through. Miss. Sujatha Singh seems to be a capable officer but the experience that Jaishankar had during his tenure as ambassador in US as well as China would be most needed by India in doing delicate diplomatic manouverings in a very dynamic Asia Pacific region where India needs to be freinds with China, Japan, USA and others and it just seems that Jaishankar has an edge over Sujatha Singh. This also sends a signal to other public sector organization that the times they are a changing and it aint old style Dilli anymore.
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Jan 31, 2015 11:36am
@G O Gujjar Gujjar :were you part of MEA?
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Jan 31, 2015 11:38am
The cracks with-in?
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Jan 31, 2015 11:40am
@Sunil USA Mr Modi is no different from ANY politician ... opportunist.
And for the 0.01% people.
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Jan 31, 2015 11:44am
@Sunil USA yes and incidentally all the governors fired were from Congress. What a joke
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Jan 31, 2015 11:54am
She was given the honourable options - Ambassadorship and UPSC ... She brought the dishonour on herself ... It is elected government's prerogative to keep or not keep an officer in a poisition ... Why lament now?
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Jan 31, 2015 11:55am
Every fired employee says so.So we must ignore them.
Modi govt has shown that One has got govt job it does not mean that he/she thinks he is above everyone.
That thinking has changed.
Congress days are gone.
Now In India people who are in govt jobs they are afraid and are reaching on time in office rather than cheating.isn't it good one.
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Jan 31, 2015 12:23pm
Every Govt has the right to have it's own executive officers to bring about the change.These are nations highest positions.If one does not perform as required by the Goverment then he is liable for firing.
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Jan 31, 2015 12:24pm
This reminds me of the article I read in the NYT a few months back on how the culture of New Delhi had shifted dramatically under Modi. The PMO has become more centralized, ministers have been instructed to make surprise visits to federal offices, bureaucrats have been ordered to keep the offices and the premises clean, and are warned of disciplinary actions for late arrival. Most famously in December, Modi locked out 20 lawmakers and ministers from his own party for not arriving to the meeting on time. This diplomat who has been fired apparently didn't take the orders from the PMO very well and disobeyed on more than one occasion.
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Jan 31, 2015 12:24pm
The Same thing happened to The great Mr.Abdul Kalam EX president of India when he was asked to leave DRDO the Missile making Co of India,he never went to press and commented but you see the last BJP PM Atal Behari ji gave him the highest position in India.
Keep your mouth shut and will be rewarded if you are an efficient officer,thats Modi jis policy
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Jan 31, 2015 12:24pm
The government has no need to answer for any action taken by it . She failed to work on governments policies . The government has powers to induct or sack any officer for ensuring good governance .
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Jan 31, 2015 12:29pm
@rambo you made my day bhai
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Jan 31, 2015 12:44pm
A megalomaniacal, egotistical, narcissistic person like Mr. Modi wants his stamp on every issue, hence he wants his cronies in all positions, i.e. people who follow his Hindutva policy agenda and say "yes, great, what an idea sir ji" to all his ideas . A developing country's leader wasting 10,00,000 Rupees on a suit with his name etched all over is CRIMINAL, this more than anything else, is yet another manifestation of Modi's authoritarian, despotic, psychopathic streak. As a citizen of this country, I fear for our future.
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Jan 31, 2015 01:12pm
The prestige, honor and interests of Our Nation are always and every time above personal interests, interests of colleagues and the honor of your department. She should have been fired when she stood to protect the selfish interests of Ms Devyani Khobragade a foreign service officer who did all sort of wrong things to her domestic maid and in her zeal to protect her honor she damaged the reputation of her country. She kept her false ego first and the country last.
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Jan 31, 2015 01:13pm
Unlike in Pakistan, incompetency has no place in Govt.
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Jan 31, 2015 01:26pm
@rambo very right
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Jan 31, 2015 01:30pm
@Jason Don't take xenophobia for patriotism, they are two different things.
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Jan 31, 2015 01:31pm
Corruption, nepotism and Babu culture has ruined our both countries for decades. When we see firm administrative action, we must learn to recognize it and learn to tell apart from such actions that are taken in the political interest.
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Jan 31, 2015 01:59pm
think she was not removed bcoz of any of her own faults but bcoz there was somebody even better available...mr modi is impatient and he will not settle for mediocre if the best is available...he moves fast
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Jan 31, 2015 02:02pm
It is sad to see person worship in this part of the world. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh all are the same. Either a person is so great (Modi propaganda) these days or it is bad. Nobody is perfect and everybody has their weaknesses and strengths. Modi is no different but Indian media is presenting him like a man with no issues. This official has every right to defend herself. Modi will bring like minded (right wing extremists) to important positions and will be ruthless in that. Good luck
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Jan 31, 2015 03:16pm
Every employee whether sloppy or efficient thinks he/she is the Best But the Boss is always right Because he will Be questioned on performance not Miss Sujata,the crying BaBe.
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Jan 31, 2015 03:31pm
@Sunil , after one year of completion of modi government, no corruption has been occurred. Modi is still working for nation. Development process are not one day process ,it has taken more time . Growth rate of India is more than congress' s time . So you can easily understand who is working better way.
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Jan 31, 2015 03:33pm
When two petty persons part this is what you get.
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Jan 31, 2015 03:40pm
Handling of kopraghade case wasn't done properly ,it strained relation between India and US for a brief period that's one of the main reason why she is fired
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Jan 31, 2015 03:54pm
It is truly internal matter of India. What concern do we have to raise it in media?
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Jan 31, 2015 04:43pm
Not even news worthy- an elected PM has every right to reassign his bureaucrats
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Jan 31, 2015 05:59pm
@Sunil You are wrong . Black money has legal implication but the process is on. I regularly talk with my Indian friends who are in top position such as IAS, directors of Bank , all have told me about the changes Modi is making and how serious he is. 60 plus years of filth takes time to clean . Dont blame Modi He is doing what is best for the country. I trust him totally
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Jan 31, 2015 06:01pm
PLEASE GOOGLE AND READ "Why PM Narendra Modi was unhappy with former foreign secretary Sujatha Singh"
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Jan 31, 2015 06:02pm
@Sampath Jaishankar is very good and right for the post.
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Jan 31, 2015 06:13pm
@irad This has nothing to do with gender. Kindly do not side track a serious issue which is the shabby treatment meted out to an officer who was competent enough to reach to the post of foreign secretary in the first place and who also handled the affairs of the ministry through Modi's engagement with dozens of countries in the past eight months. There is nothing to show that she was incompetent.
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Jan 31, 2015 06:22pm
My Indian friends seem a bit in love with Modi. Yes Germans were in love with Hitler as well before WWII.
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Jan 31, 2015 06:32pm
The replacement is reportedly is a very efficient person. Country needs right persons in important positions.
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Jan 31, 2015 06:37pm
@Sunil You also come to Kashmere and give moral support in the winter. Donot give sermons.
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Jan 31, 2015 06:39pm
@Sunil Smithi Irani is one of the competent ministers in Modi Cabinet. Donot give prejudiced comment.
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Jan 31, 2015 06:42pm
@Sunil Who has brain washed you. Have patience, It takes time for the results to be shown on the steets. That is why he is elected for 5 years.
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Jan 31, 2015 07:02pm
@Sudhanshu Swami
LOL...loved your humour
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Jan 31, 2015 07:25pm
@irad
Because Sushma Swaraj is not sure of her own position as External Affair minister. In all the foreign trips of Modi, did you see her in the pictures or TV? Do you remember, Sushma along with Advani had opposed Modi for PM?
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Jan 31, 2015 07:28pm
@Raj Upadhyay :
I work in a big business house with multiple companies.
My experience is that those businesses run autocratically have given high return on capital.
Also, the CEOs of such business make sure that they get the best stock options and other benefits- higher than industry standard..
Similarly in administration of say a residential complex- I have seen that the strictest guy has delivered the best for the complex. Its due to him that many things r right here.
Hope u got the message.
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Jan 31, 2015 08:00pm
Please read this article along with the news that Modi has cancelled golf membership for 27 top bureaucrats that was bestowed by the previous congress regime
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Jan 31, 2015 08:14pm
why was she removed, same not clear in article.
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Jan 31, 2015 08:21pm
Change is always good! Modi is the man who should choose his teammates. There should not be any kind of affirmative action in foreign policy department.
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Jan 31, 2015 09:44pm
@Sachin what a strange logic. Rubbish
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Jan 31, 2015 09:54pm
Since Modi became PM officials arrive in time every day and work.
Honeymoon is over for them.
Modi rightly does not see any virtue at all in people showing up on time and work for what they are paid.
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Jan 31, 2015 10:27pm
@Sachin - Having said that, there is a thin line between being a control freak, and a perfectionist. That could always translate in to a thin line between being a dictator and excellent administrator. We must give up the habit of hero worship. Its the sign of weakness and slavish attitude.
Its the process which is important, and not the personalities.
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Jan 31, 2015 10:54pm
@Sunil USA
He is very trustworthy, doesn't mind genocide of Muslims and India rewarded him.
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Feb 01, 2015 05:16am
@Raj Upadhyay Hail Freud
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Feb 01, 2015 04:20pm
@amir khan Congress did the same with BJP Governors when in came to power after Vajpayee Govt.
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Feb 02, 2015 02:46am
@Ahmed Pakistani unfortunately you don't have any leaders to love or hate.
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Feb 02, 2015 08:43am
Sujhata has to blame herself for the fiasco she is complaining about.She should have
voluntarily offered her exit, the moment smell reached her. There was reason to that,
that another capable officer was listed to replace her and no time was left other than
to issue warrant of her exit.Sad to see her swollen face in the media, but nothing now
can be done.However there is Good lesson to beurocrats in subcontinent that your post
is till the pleasure of top man.
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Feb 02, 2015 12:50pm
I think now we have a leader, we love and that is Imran Khan. @Neeraj Nigam
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Feb 02, 2015 09:04pm
It is so sad to read it, why women in India are not allow to work peacefully and in dignity. So shameful act of Indian GOVT.
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