The Vice-President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, on Tuesday announced that the Rajya Sabha Secretariat will start a lecture series in memory of former Prime Minister Chandrashekhar.

Paying tributes to Chandrashekhar at his memorial, Dhankar described the former Prime Minister as “one of the greatest sons of Bharat".

He added, “He stood for democratic values, and he was recognised as a ‘Young Turk’ for ensuring inter-party democracy.”

“He was a fearless politician, one who always acted like a statesman. He did not care for his personal liberty or comfort when it came to Bharat’s nationalism, and he always made us proud. He stood for the unity of Bharat and was always against divisiveness. He was a pillar of strength for us,” he stated.

Referring to his political career, Dhankhar said, “His political career has been unique and unparalleled. He was a Member of Rajya Sabha for 15 years, from 1962-77, and thereafter, until his death in 2007, he was a Member of Lok Sabha, except once. That period was also most significant in his life, when he undertook one of the most authentic ‘Padyatras’ of Bharat, to unite Bharat and to combat divisiveness. So, he had a career in Parliament for more than four decades, and he had the occasion to see all the Prime Ministers until his death. No Prime Minister was missed by him in Parliament.”

Announcing a lecture series in his memory, Dhankhar stated that he had the fortune of becoming an MP alongside him. “To such a great son of Bharat, who stood for values that come from our civilisational ethos, I find it most befitting and appropriate that we must start a lecture series in his memory.”

“The Rajya Sabha Secretariat will take steps in that direction, and since Deputy Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh Narayan Singh, a very distinguished journalist and very able parliamentarian, performs his job as Deputy Chairman with exemplary virtues and excellence, had the occasion to work alongside Chandrashekhar and knew him well. We cannot have a more befitting person than Harivansh ji to head the committee for such a lecture series to be started by the Rajya Sabha,” the Vice President added.

Recalling his tenure as a member of the Lok Sabha along with Chandrashekhar, Dhankhar said, “It is time that our young people come to know about the ‘Young Turk,’ about the fighter for democratic values, the only senior leader of the ruling party during the Emergency who was put behind bars. He never risked anything for the Nation. He was the Prime Minister during most turbulent times. I was too junior, but I came to know about Chandrashekhar ji’s strength when he found his value system was being compromised. He did not hesitate for a moment and gave up the post of Prime Minister.”

Dhankar revealed that in a book, he will give his personal reflections on how a very serious effort was made by those who mattered at that point in time to prevent Chandrashekhar from announcing his resignation on the floor of the house.