Will he, wont’ he?


That is the question doing rounds in Delhi – as in Kathmandu.


The reference is to the continuation of the controversial Indian ambassador to Nepal, Rakesh Sood, till he completes his term in March next year.


Seen by a section of the media and the political circle in Nepal as the ‘bad boy’ of the Lainchaur mission, he does not have many sympathizers in the South Block as well, according to knowledgeable journalists based in Delhi.


Not unexpectedly, therefore, the speculation about Sood being prematurely recalled did originate in Delhi.

The story found its way to The Telegraphof Kolkata which stated that re-calling Sood was a part of Delhi's attempt “to re-calibrate relations” with Nepal.


The External Affairs Ministry was quick to defend the beleaguered diplomat:  ‘Sood is not unpopular in Nepal and during his tenure, dialogue and development cooperation with Nepal has progressed substantively'.


The statement was however silent on whether he was being recalled or not, nor did it claim that the bilateral relations were at its best during Sood’s tenure. Knowledgeable journalists in Delhi say, Sood may not be recalled before he completes his term in four months’ time. But he will certainly not get an extension unlike his predecessor, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee.


"An extension is impossible," they said.


After Sood, special secretary in the ministry of external affair, Jayant Prasad, is widely tipped to head the Katmandu-based most influential foreign mission that his professor father, Bimal Prasad, occupied about two decades ago.


After Sood, special secretary in the ministry of external affair, Jayant  Prasad, is widely tipped to head the second-largest Indian mission abroad that his professor father, Bimal Prasad, occupied about two decades ago.
Knowledgeable journalists in Delhi say, Sood may not be recalled before he completes his term in four months’ time. But he will certainly not get an extension unlike his predecessor, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee.


"An extension is impossible," they said.


After Sood, special secretary in the ministry of external affair, Jayant Prasad, is widely tipped to head the Katmandu-based most influential foreign mission that his professor father, Bimal Prasad, occupied about two decades ago.


After Sood, special secretary in the ministry of external affair, Jayant  Prasad, is widely tipped to head the second-largest Indian mission abroad that his professor father, Bimal Prasad, occupied about two decades ago.