Government bemused by Indian envoy's status

The Government has not been officially told that India's High Commissioner Harish Kumar Dogra no longer holds his position, Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday.

Mr Dogra is refusing orders to surrender his post, although he is reported to have gone on extended leave as controversy surrounds his status.

Mr Dogra has accused Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran of "impropriety" and called for his resignation.

Helen Clark said at her post-Cabinet press conference yesterday the situation was "most unusual - I can't recall anything like it".

She said the Government had not sought clarification of the situation.

"It is up to them [the Indian Government] to say who its high commissioner is," she said.

"We have no formal advice on a change of high commissioner."

Mr Dogra's problems appear to have started when some sections of the Indian community complained about visa delays.

His disagreements with his Government have been widely reported by the news media in New Zealand and India.

His wife, Neeta Dogra, confirmed at the weekend that her husband was on leave but that he remained high commissioner.

She said it had been "a very stressful time" and denied reports that her husband intended returning to New Delhi.

Helen Clark was asked yesterday whether Mr Dogra would be allowed to stay in New Zealand if he ceased to hold office.

"I'm sure his status in New Zealand is on the basis of being high commissioner," she said.

- NZPA