Modi's appointment of Subrahmanyam Jaishankar as foreign secretary, the top bureaucrat at the foreign ministry, underscores the Prime Minister's control over foreign affairs.
But his abrupt sacking of Sujatha Singh, the foreign secretary appointed by the previous Congress administration, was criticized by the Congress party.
READ ALSO: Manmohan wanted Jaishankar as foreign secretary, but Sonia chose Sujatha
Congress questioned the timing of government's decision to remove Sujatha Singh and wondered whether it was "retribution" for her stand on IFS officer Devyani Khobragade.
"Is sacking of foreign secretary late retribution for her stand on Devyani Khobragade affair? Removal after a presidential visit "coincidental"? former information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari wrote on Twitter.
Government late on Wednesday night decided to replace Sujatha Singh, curtailing her tenure by eight months.
Singh was the foreign secretary when the arrest of Khobragade in the US had led to a diplomatic dust-up.
The 1999 batch IFS officer was arrested in 2013 in New York on visa fraud charges. The incident had triggered a row between the two countries with India reacting with steps including downgrading privileges of certain categories of US diplomats. Singh as foreign secretary had taken a tough stand on the matter.
READ ALSO: S Jaishankar takes charge as foreign secretary after Sujatha Singh is sacked
'No political motive' behind FS' removal: BJP
Defending the move to replace Sujatha Singh, BJP ruled out any political motive and said the government had acted well within its right to decide on appointment of officers.
"I don't see any reason for hue and cry. A government is within its rights to decide how it would like to appoint what officers and with what responsibilities. And this is not the first time..... Preceding governments have taken (such) decisions," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.
"I do not see any reason that anyone can attribute any political motives. This is the right of the government," Kohli said.
New foreign secretary S Jaishankar (left) with Sujatha Singh (centre) and foreign minister Sushma Swaraj. (PTI photo)
Taking on the Congress for raising questions on the decision, the BJP leader said, "The Congress party spokesperson can try to do politics or anything. In any case it does not appear that they are inspired by their leadership. That's why their constant method seems to be trying to raise a hue and cry on issues also where there is no scope to do so."
Kohli said there can't be a political motive to everything.
"How can you mix it with the appointment of the foreign secretary? A government is within its rights to appoint any officer and this has been done by preceding governments too. There can't be a political motive to everything," he said.
Since he swept to power last year, Modi has virtually taken over the reins of foreign policy, beginning with an unprecedented invitation to regional leaders to attend his inauguration and followed by high profile meetings with the leaders of United States, China, Japan and Australia.
During Sujatha Singh's tenure under the previous administration, India and the United States were embroiled in a diplomatic row over the arrest of a junior Indian diplomat in New York for an alleged visa fraud. Ties hit their lowest level in a decade.
Since then, Modi has moved rapidly to rebuild ties with Washington, putting behind his own embarrassment at being denied a visa for a decade for religious violence in the state he governed earlier.
He went on a state visit last September, building a relationship with Obama and then hosting him as the guest of honour at this week's Republic Day Parade, the first US president to do so.
READ ALSO: Jaishankar worked on PM's idea of inviting Obama for R-Day
Jaishankar, credited with helping Modi turn around the relationship, said his job was to carry out the government's priorities.
"A big responsibility. I am honoured that I have been assigned this responsibility," he told reporters as he took charge.
Jaishankar has previously been ambassador to China and Singapore.
(Inputs from Reuters, PTI)
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