Ignoring the fine print

Call it sour grapes or spilling the beans, but pipped to the foreign secretary8217;s post by Shiv Shankar Menon, Rajiv Sikri went public last week against the nuclear deal with the US and the secrecy with which the 123 negotiations were carried out. While alleging that more has been hidden than revealed, the official who unceremoniously quit the MEA, also accused Government of being involved in finalising an acquisitions and cross-servicing agreement with the US.

The truth, of course, is debatable. As a former secretary in the MEA, Sikri should know the Prime Minister8217;s joint statement with George W Bush not only mentions the logistic support agreement but also that the documents was part of a factsheet issued under maritime security framework during the US President8217;s visit. Of course, Sikri8217;s case remains that Iran is a more reliable energy partner than US, a view that perhaps had him at odds with the PMO while in service.