Ernest named Indian High Commissioner in New Zealand

By Rohit Kumar ‘Happy’

Indian government has named senior IFS officer K P Ernest as India's High Commissioner to New Zealand replacing Harish Kumar Dogra, who has been recalled and proceeded on leave.

A 1975 batch IFS officer, Ernest, will assume his charge shortly, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told Indian media. Ernest is Additional Secretary, Policy Planning and Research, Ministry of External Affairs.

Indian Government has withdrawn accreditation to Dogra and the new appointment has been conveyed to New Zealand Foreign Office and the country's High Commissioner in New Delhi.

The Indian government has sent Biren Nanda, joint secretary (south) in the external affairs ministry, to Wellington to persuade the country's recalled envoy to New Zealand, Harish Kumar Dogra, to return home. Dogra repeated his contention that he would not return till Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran, whom he has accused of carrying on a vendetta against him, retires in September.

According to some reports, Dogra has filed a defamation suit against the external affairs ministry for spreading misinformation. Indian External Affairs Ministry, however, chose to remain silent.

ENDS

© Scoop Media