NEW DELHI, April 19: India stripped its controversial high commissioner (ambassador) to New Zealand of his credentials and named his successor on Wednesday but refused to disclose the reason.

“Yesterday, the accreditation of Harish Kumar Dogra was withdrawn and the decision was communicated to the New Zealand high commission (embassy) in New Delhi as well as to the foreign office in Wellington,” said foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna.

Mr Sarna said Mr Dogra’s successor K. P. Ernest will ‘take up shortly’ as India’s ambassador to New Zealand.

Mr Dogra reportedly antagonised New Zealand’s Indian community by denying travel visas to India and then accused Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran of bringing shame on the country.

In a letter Mr Dogra purportedly sent Mr Saran, the Indian envoy described the recall order as ill-advised and illegal and urged his boss to quit.

“What have I been charged with, why am I being hanged without even being given an opportunity to be heard?” said the letter, dated April 10.—AFP