Former UN envoy Hardeep Puri joins the BJP

Career diplomat Hardeep Singh Puri, who recently retired as India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Welcoming him to the party fold, BJP President Rajnath Singh said, "We look forward to utilising his experience in the areas of foreign, security and trade policies."

Puri, a 1974-batch Indian Foreign Service Officer, held several senior positions in the ministry of external affairs and defence during his 39 years of service.

He also held ambassadorial assignments in London and Brasilia.

In 2011 and 2012, as Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York, he led the Indian delegation to the Security Council. He also chaired the UNSC’s Counter-Terrorism Committee.

Puri said he was delighted to formally join the BJP which he had long admired for its strong sense of nationalism.

He said he looked forward to doing party work and was ready to contribute in whatever manner the party president and its senior leadership asked him to.

Image: Hardeep Singh Puri with BJP senior leader L K Advani