MEA Warns Kerala Government Against Overstepping Constitutional Boundaries

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reacted very strongly to the recent move of the Kerala government in designating a senior IAS officer as 'Foreign Secretary,' though reiterating that the Indian Constitution does not mention either 'Foreign Affairs' under 'Concurrent' or 'State subject.'

On July 15, the Kerala administration, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, appointed senior bureaucrat K. Vasuki to the role of Foreign Secretary to handle matters related to external cooperation.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated unequivocally, “Let’s be very clear, the Constitution of India under the Seventh Schedule, List I, which is a Union List, clearly specifies that foreign affairs and all matters which bring the Union into the relation with any foreign country are the sole prerogative of the Union government.

“Foreign affairs is not a concurrent subject and definitely not a State subject. So, our position is that state governments should not intrude into matters that are beyond their constitutional jurisdiction,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday.

The Kerala government is facing significant criticism for this move from various quarters.

K. Surendran, BJP’s Kerala unit chief, remarked, “The appointment of an IAS officer as Foreign Secretary in Kerala by CM Pinarayi Vijayan is a blatant overreach and a violation of the Union List of the Constitution. The LDF government has no mandate in foreign affairs."

Surendran questioned whether this action indicated an attempt by CM Vijayan to establish Kerala as an independent entity. “This unconstitutional move sets a dangerous precedent. Is CM Pinarayi Vijayan trying to establish Kerala as a separate nation?” he asked.

He warned that if such actions persist, it might lead to demands for a separate consulate and a Foreign Affairs Minister for Kerala. “In the larger interest of the country, CM Vijayan should immediately cancel the appointment of Vasuki to the new post as it’s not in tune with national interest,” Surendran concluded.