By Sudeshna Sarkar,IANS,
Kathmandu : Nepal’s new Maoist government Monday ordered its ambassador to India, Durgesh Man Singh, to return to the country.
Singh, a post-graduate of the Delhi School of Economics and a former student of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as of Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, was appointed by the prevous government of Nepali Congress led by Girija Prasad Koirala.
The then cabinet, in which the Maoists were also partners, had approved the appointment.
Singh, a kinsman of venerated Nepali freedom fighter, the late Ganesh Man Singh, is regarded as being close to the Nepali Congress, which is now the main opposition party in Nepal.
Most Nepali ambassadors to India have been political appointees. Singh replaced Karna Dhoj Adhikari, who was appointed by a government handpicked by deposed King Gyanendra.
The Maoist government has also recalled the ambassador to the US, Suresh Kumar Chalise. Chalise was former foreign affairs advisor to Koirala.
When the Koirala government came to power in 2006 after the ouster of Gyanendra’s army-backed regime, at least 10 envoys were recalled.
Foreign ministry sources said three more envoys could be recalled in the near future.
The Maoist government has already reshuffled the bureaucracy and home department. It is also planning to undertake a massive transfer of judges.