Political Turmoil Following Jagdeep Dhankhar's Sudden Resignation as Vice President
Political Shockwaves from Dhankhar's Resignation
The unexpected resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar due to health issues has left the opposition in a state of shock, igniting rampant speculation within political circles. Just hours before his announcement, Dhankhar had engaged in discussions with several senior leaders, yet he provided no indication of any health concerns or intentions to resign.
Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who frequently debated with Dhankhar in the Rajya Sabha, revealed that he had spoken with Dhankhar just two hours prior to the resignation news. Ramesh noted that Dhankhar was with his family and expressed no immediate worries, planning to continue their discussions the following day.
Congress Raises Questions About Dhankhar's Resignation
The Congress party has suggested that there are deeper reasons behind Dhankhar's resignation beyond the health issues he cited. They argue that his departure speaks volumes about his circumstances and raises serious questions regarding the intentions of those who elevated him to the vice presidency.
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress General Secretary in charge of communications, mentioned that Dhankhar chaired a meeting of the Rajya Sabha's Business Advisory Committee at 12:30 PM on Monday.
He further stated that something significant occurred between 1 PM and 4:30 PM on Monday, which led to the absence of central ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju from the meeting. Ramesh emphasized that Dhankhar was very aware of the rules and decorum, believing that these were being consistently overlooked during his tenure.
Government's Silence on Allegations
Currently, there has been no response from the government regarding these claims made by Congress. Dhankhar resigned from his position on Monday night, citing health reasons.
Ramesh took to social media platform 'X' to share, "Yesterday, Jagdeep Dhankhar chaired the Business Advisory Committee at 12:30 PM. Most members, including the Leader of the House JP Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, were present. After some discussions, the committee decided to reconvene at 4:30 PM."
He added that the committee reconvened under Dhankhar's leadership at 4:30 PM, awaiting the arrival of Nadda and Rijiju, who did not show up. Ramesh claimed that Dhankhar was not personally informed about the absence of the two senior ministers, which disappointed him, leading to the rescheduling of the committee meeting for Tuesday at 1 PM.
Ramesh asserted that a serious incident must have occurred between 1 PM and 4:30 PM that caused Nadda and Rijiju to deliberately miss the second meeting of the Business Advisory Committee.
He concluded by stating that Dhankhar's resignation, attributed to health issues, should be respected, but there are undoubtedly deeper underlying reasons.
Dhankhar's Legacy and Critique of Current Governance
Ramesh noted that Dhankhar has consistently praised India post-2014 while also advocating for farmers' rights. He criticized the growing arrogance in public life and emphasized the need for accountability and restraint within the judiciary.
Despite the current government's approach, Dhankhar attempted to provide space for the opposition as much as possible. Ramesh remarked that Dhankhar was steadfast in adhering to rules and procedures but felt that these were being ignored in his role.
He concluded that Dhankhar's resignation speaks volumes about him and raises serious questions about the intentions of those who brought him to the vice presidency.