‘No mandate to post of Ambassador-at-Large’

The comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pulled up the previous NDA government for creating the post of Ambassador-at-Large at New York and...

The comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) pulled up the previous NDA government for creating the post of Ambassador-at-Large at New York and opening an office there without assigning any mandate which led to an ‘‘avoidable’’ expenditure of Rs 15.95 crores. Bhishma K Agnihotri, who was associated with the RSS, was appointed by the previous government but then removed from the post shortly after the UPA government assumed office last year.

The CAG report, which was tabled before Parliament today, said that the government had issued no specific mandate for Agnihotri’s office. ‘‘There was overlap of functions carried out by him with those of the mission in Washington and the post in New york.’’

THe CAG further said the basis of sanctioning five India-based posts and five local posts had been sought but details had not been furnished.

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He was not accredited by the US government as a foreign diplomat as it did not recognise the rank of advisor or Ambassador-at-Large. Moreover, Washington could not approve a green card holder as an Indian diplomat.

In December 2002, Agnihotri was made special advisor to India’s Permanent Representative in the UN, with the rank of an ambassador. His office functioned from different premises in New York and the expenditure incurred, according to the CAG report, for hiring office accommodation till it was shifted to the new premises in October that year was $105,550 equivalent to Rs 51.38 lakh.

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