Nirupama Rao, Indian envoy
to the US, bid farewell to her career of diplomacy, as members of the American
diplomatic core and her counterparts from countries like China and Brazil
gathered at a reception hosted in her honour by the State Department here.
"It is difficult to imagine that so much time has passed," Rao told a
select audience gathered at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the US State
Department, which hosted a rare farewell reception for the Indian diplomat on
the last day of her assignment last night. Rao, 62, in the four-decade of being
a diplomat served as India's Foreign Secretary, External Affairs Ministry's
spokesperson and envoy to important countries like China and Sri Lanka. "I
leave with a great sense of optimism and hope and satisfaction that I have been
able not only to learn so much but also to help build partnerships and forge
relationship between India and a number of countries around the world,"
said Rao. US Secretary of State John Kerry sent a special message to Rao which
was read on the occasion. He appreciated Rao's role in strengthening the
important partnership between India and the US. "I wish you all the best
in the day, months and years to come," Kerry said in the message. "An
honour to be hosted to farewell @StateDept today. Touched by Secretary Kerry's
message and presence of so many friends and colleagues," Rao tweeted after
the reception. Rao is one of the few diplomats who has over 190,000 followers
on the microblogging site. At the reception, she was described as
"tireless champion" of Indo-US Strategic Partnership and that during
her two-year tenure, the bilateral relationship has reached new heights. She
was accompanied by her husband and former Chief Secretary of Karnataka Sudhakar
Rao. Last week, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns hosted a luncheon for
her at the State Department. The Indian-American community and the US India
Business Council also hosted receptions for her last week. Rao also hosted a
farewell reception at her residence last week, which was attended by top
American diplomats and members of the Indian-American community. Among those
attended the reception were US Assistant Secretary of State for South and
Central Asia Nisha Biswal and her predecessor Robert Blake; and US the Under
Secretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy. Rao will be succeeded by S
Jaishankar, currently India's Ambassador to China.
Congress leader Manishankar Aiyar attracted opposition BJP's ire today in Rajya Sabha when he said he was not interested in listening to speech of a BJP member on vote on account, prompting the Chair to adjourn the House amid uproar. During the Zero Hour, Deputy Chairman P J Kurien allowed Aiyar, who wanted to ask a question, to do so, which was opposed by BJP members. Kurien asked Aiyar whether he yielded to allow others to speak, to which he said he had no objection and he can ask his question later. As the House got ready to initiate discussion on Vote on Account, Kurien said, "Let us reduce the discussion to two hours from four hours," which was opposed by BJP members including Piyush Goyal who was given a chance to speak on Vote on Account. When it was agreed that discussion will take place as per schedule, Aiyar remarked he was not interested in listening to the speech by BJP member. "You had given me the chance to ask a question
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