Why home secretary LC Goyal was shunted out: The inside story : India, News - India Today
Senior bureaucrat Rajiv Mehrishi was appointed as the new home secretary on Monday. Mehrishi, who was secretary, department of economic affairs, ministry of finance will replace LC Goyal.
Goyal, a 1979 batch IAS, had sought voluntary retirement from government service due to personal reasons which was approved by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi.
However, Goyal's decision to seek voluntary retirement two years ahead of his scheduled retirement from the government service has raised quite a few eyebrows.
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Sources have told India Today that there were many reasons behind Goyal's decision to seek early retirement.
1.
The decision to remove Goyal from the post was taken immediately after the National Security Advisor (NSA)-level talks between India and Pakistan were called off. The high-level dialogue, which was scheduled to be held in New Delhi on August 23, was suspended following an ugly war of words between the leaders of the two neighbouring nations. While Pakistan blamed India of setting pre-condition for talks, India made it clear that terror should be the prime agenda for any dialogue to take place. New Delhi had also objected to Islamabad inviting Hurriyat for talks ahead of NSA meeting.
2. The government is also said to be miffed with Goyal after reports emerged in the media that the home ministry was not consulted over the Naga peace deal.
The PMO was particulary upset with some media reports which claimed that the home ministry was not even provided with a copy of the peace accord.
3.
The government was also said to be unhappy over Goyal's way of handling things in his department. Goyal reportedly had no control over joint secretaries which irked the government further.
4. By removing Goyal, the Modi government has sent out a clear message to bureaucrats that they will need to work according to the prescribed role and agenda set by it.