New Delhi:
S Jaishankar, who served as the Foreign Secretary of India between January 2015 and January 2018, on Thursday received a call to join the Narendra Modi Cabinet, sources close to the development told News Nation. Amid this speculation over his induction as Minister to the Narendra Modi government, Jaishankar, reached the prime miniter's official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi, to meet the latter. Ministers selected for oath of office started arriving at Modi's residence from 4:30 pm.
Therefore, Jaishankar, who is also the former Ambassador of India to the US and China, is expected to take part in the high-profile swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening.
Delhi: Former Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar (File pic) also arrives at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg (PM Modi's residence). pic.twitter.com/sKJCz5zf39
— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2019
PM Modi, who was unanimously elected the leader of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), following his stupendous victory in this Lok Sabha election, will be administered oath of office for the second consecutive term. President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the prime minister and other members of the Union Council of Ministers at a ceremony around 7 pm on Thursday.
Jaishankar, who joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1977, is known for his significant contribution in resolving the incursion in Ladakh's Depsang and the Doklam stand-off through negotiations with China. He also played a key role in negotiating the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement that was signed by the UPA government in 2007.
The 64-year-old, who also had stints as the high commissioner to Singapore, was appointed as the Tata Group's president of Global Corporate Affairs, post his retirement as the Foregin Secretary of India. In March, Jaishankar had received the Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind.
