The controversial envoy arrives

By C. Raja Mohan

NEW DELHI, AUG. 27. The newly-appointed, but controversial Adviser in the Indian Embassy in Washington, Mr. Bhisham Agnihotri, arrived here tonight for wide-ranging consultations with the Indian Government.

A well-known activist of the Hindutva forces in the U.S., Mr. Agnihotri was recently appointed in the Indian mission in Washington with the rank of Ambassador to advise on the affairs of the Non-Resident Indian community and the people of Indian origin in the U.S.

The bizarre appointment has created a controversy within the political establishment and raised hackles within the professional diplomatic community. It is being seen here as an unfortunate departure from the norm of not appointing political personalities to functional positions in missions abroad. The Government, analysts here say, is free to make political appointments to lead the Indian Embassies overseas. But never before has the Government made political appointments that undermine the position of the designated Ambassador to a particular country.

The brazen appointment of a partisan political figure is likely to open the doors for the next Government to appoint its own friends in America to lucrative jobs at the Indian Embassy. The diplomatic professionals here say that Mr. Agnihotri's appointment will rob the political authority of the Indian mission in Washington and create confusion within the Non- Resident Indian community in the U.S.

Mr. Agnihotri's appointment is believed to have taken place under pressure from the ideological affiliates of the ruling BJP. Sources here say the appointment will further deepen the divisions within the Indian community which has acquired a new political clout within the American society. They also point to the rift within the various groups aligned with the BJP in the U.S. To that extent, they question Mr. Agnihotri's effectiveness to reach out to the broad range of Indian opinion in the U.S.

Mr. Agnihotri is expected to call on the top echelons of the External Affairs Ministry during his stay here. He is also expected to interact with top officials in the Prime Minister's Office and the economic Ministries.

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