PM raps ministers again over junkets

‘‘I trust that instances of ministries acting in infringement of Allocation of Business Rules will not occur in future. Wherever there are unresolved differences in perception, they may be brought to my attention or placed before the concerned Cabinet Committee for decision,’’ says Vajpayee in his letter. The PM has said that actions of some ministers were having a bearing on the conduct of India’s foreign relations. And rules must be ‘‘scrupulously followed in the interest of proper coordination and optimal conduct of our foreign policy’’. Though the provocation for the order is not spelt out in the letter, the previous missive was a fallout of a farewell dinner by an ambassador where five Cabinet ministers turned up without the MEA being aware of it. That prompted the PM to elucidate an eight-fold path to improve the dignity of ministerial office.

This time, he has broadly outlined the norms saying the MEA should be consulted in advance on ‘‘all substantive policy matters, issues concerning India’s project or representation abroad, and initiatives involving foreign governments’’.