NEW DELHI: The Indian mission in Beijing is busy shooting itself in the

foot at a time when India-China relations are on a downswing.

Fresh controversy enveloped the mission with RAW station chief Uma
Mishra being recalled this week, apparently for a poorly handled
investigation into a "honeytrap" case.
Mishra is expected to return to India soon and this will be the second
time a RAW official has returned from Beijing under a cloud.
Earlier, another RAW staffer, Manmohan Sharma, was recalled for his
alleged affair with a Chinese interpreter. In connection with the Sharma
case, an assistant to deputy chief of mission Saurabh Kumar has
already been sent back.
The assistant, Gangadharan, was called back to Delhi on "special duty"
and then given a recall letter and now it is believed that Kumar himself
may be posted out as well after barely a year as deputy chief of
mission. Kumar's replacement is believed to be another MEA official
from Vietnam.
Just what's happening in Beijing?
Amid the sheer inefficiency, lack of checks and poor professionalism,
there's a strong possibility of an ego spat between MEA and RAW. The
trouble apparently began after the Manmohan Sharma incident.
While RAW, responsible for external intelligence, cried foul and said its
official was above board and the problem had really to do with a
quarrel between Sharma's maid and interpreter, MEA differed and
claimed that a probe had found evidence that Sharma had been
"penetrated" by the Chinese. Sharma's apartment was apparently
bugged.
The Gangadharan recall thereafter is being seen as a tit-for-tat affair
between MEA and RAW. On being called back to Delhi, he was not even
allowed to go back to Beijing to bring back his family, said sources.
Mishra's recall is rather more serious as she's a counseller level officer.
It is said that her return is a result of not conducting the investigation
of the Manmohan Sharma incident properly with sources saying that
MEA was unhappy at her alleged refusal to pass on details of the
Sharma affair to the ministry.
The turn of events reflects poorly on both organisations. Certainly,

when relations with China need closer attention, India should be better
served by both agencies.