Principal Secretary to PM turns down Modi's request, wants to quit PMO

Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nripendra Misra, has expressed his intention to be relieved of his duties, the government said on Friday (August 30).

The Prime Minister has asked him to continue for two weeks, principal government spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said.

Former cabinet secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha, a 1977 batch UP-cadre IAS officer, has been appointed as officer on special duty by the Prime Minister, the spokesperson added.

“Been a privilege to serve country under PM Modi ji. Deeply grateful to him for this opportunity and complete confidence he placed in me. It’s time now that I move on, even as I remain devoted to public causes and national interest,” Misra said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister wished Misra for the “new phase” of his life.

“Shri Nripendra Misra is among the most outstanding officers, who has a great grasp of public policy and administration. When I was new to Delhi in 2014, he taught me a lot and his guidance remains extremely valuable,” Modi tweeted.

He said that after serving the PMO “assiduously and diligently” for over five years and making an indelible contribution to India’s growth trajectory, Misra will be embarking on a new phase of his life. “My best wishes to him for his future endeavours.”

Misra has been with Modi in the PMO since 2014. He was one of the first retired officers inducted into the PMO after Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance formed government at the Centre. Modi had retained his core team after coming back to power again this year.

Misra’s decision to quit comes at a time when India’s economic growth slumped to a seven-year low of 5 per cent in the first quarter of 2019-20.

(With inputs from agencies)