The Hindu
Nancy Powell announced in a U.S. Mission Town Hall meeting in New Delhi
on Monday night that she has submitted her resignation to President
Barack Obama. File photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar
U.S. Ambassador to India Nancy Powell’s resignation is not related to
any tension or any recent situation, the Obama administration asserted
on Tuesday refuting all such media reports in this regard.
“It is in no way related to any tension, any recent situations. There’s
no big behind-the-scenes-story here,” State Department Deputy
Spokesperson Marie Harf told reporters when asked about Ms. Powell’s
announcement in New Delhi that she has sent her resignation to U.S.
President Barack Obama.
“She announced on Monday night that she has submitted her resignation to
President Obama, as has been planned for some time, and she will retire
to her home in Delaware before the end of May,” Ms. Harf said.
“This is the end of a distinguished 37-year career — that has included
postings as U.S. ambassador to Uganda, Ghana, Pakistan, Nepal and India,
as well as service in a number of other locations. She deserves to
retire. But I want to dispel any rumours out there that this is related
in any way to anything besides her long-planned retirement,” Ms. Harf
said. When asked if Powell’s resignation reflected any “realignment of
diplomatic relations between India and the U.S. seven days before the
elections”, Ms. Harf said there’s “no big secret” to timing here.
“All the rumours and speculation are, quite frankly, totally false. She
is retiring, after 37 years — returning home to Delaware by the end of
May. I don’t have further insight into why she chose now, but it’s not
at all related to anything happening in the relationship. It doesn’t
indicate any realignment of the relationship,” she said. “This is an
incredibly key partnership that will continue under our team there and
under whoever is named the next ambassador,” Ms. Harf said.
Ms. Powell announced in a U.S. Mission Town Hall meeting in New Delhi on
Monday night that she has submitted her resignation to President Barack
Obama. No decision has been made about Ms. Powell’s replacement.
“Let me see exactly when she’s heading back and who will be stepping in
to fill in her shoes. Obviously, the relationship between the U.S. and
India isn’t about one person — while incredibly important, it’s about
the whole host of officials that engage, from Secretary (of State, John)
Kerry and others at the White House and here on down,” she said.
“So the relationship is much broader than our ambassador, although she
is wonderful and amazing, and, again, I think deserves a retirement
after 37 years,” Ms. Harf said.
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