‘Far deeper reasons’ behind pro-farmer Indian VP’s resignation: Congress
New Delhi: The Indian National Congress has said that that there are “far deeper reasons” behind Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation as India’s Vice President than the health concerns he cited.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a sudden and unexpected move, Dhankhar tendered his resignation on Monday evening, citing medical reasons.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took to social media to hint at internal issues that might have led to the resignation.
In a series of posts on X, Ramesh outlined events leading up to Dhankhar’s departure. According to Ramesh, the Vice President chaired a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Rajya Sabha at 12:30 pm on Monday, which was attended by most members, including Leader of the House JP Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. During this session, it was decided that the BAC would reconvene at 4:30 pm. However, when the meeting reconvened, both Nadda and Rijiju were notably absent. Ramesh noted that Dhankhar was not informed about their absence. Rightly he took umbrage and rescheduled the meeting for the following day (Tuesday) at 1 pm.
Ramesh said that something significant occurred between 1 pm and 4:30 pm that led to their absence. “Something very serious happened behind the scenes,” he wrote, alluding to possible tensions that might have triggered Dhankhar’s sudden resignation.
About Dhankhar’s stated health reasons for stepping down, Ramesh remarked that “there are far deeper reasons for his resignation” that have yet to come to light. He went on to praise Dhankhar as someone who had “spoken fearlessly for the welfare of farmers”, “forcefully against what he called ‘ahankar’ [arrogance] in public life,” and emphasised judicial accountability. He also commended Dhankhar’s emphasis on judicial accountability and his attempts to engage the Opposition within the limits of the current ruling establishment.
Ramesh added, “Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation speaks volumes about his character, but it also speaks poorly of those who initially got him elected as Vice President.”
Echoing Ramesh’s sentiments, Congress MP Danish Ali suggested that Dhankhar’s resignation was politically motivated rather than health-related.
“This development leaves a big question mark that demands answers,” said NCP (SP) leader Anish Gawande.
The Opposition on Monday raised questions over Dhankhar’s sudden resignation, with the Congress saying that clearly, there is “far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye”.
Earlier, after Dhankhar’s sudden resignation on Monday evening, Ramesh remarked, “The sudden resignation of the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable.” Ramesh maintained, “there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye.”
