Congress questions VP Dhankhar's sudden exit, points to no-show of Nadda, Kiren Rijiju at key meeting

Congress has raised suspicion over Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden departure from office on Monday. The key opposition party noted resignation comes at a time when the Rajya Sabha chairman was set to make a key announcement regarding the judiciary on Tuesday

 

Congress secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said two Union ministers -- J.P. Nadda, who is also leader of the house in Rajya Sabha, and Kiren Rijiju--skipped the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting convened by Dhankhar on Monday evening. 

 

"Jagdeep Dhankar chaired the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha at 12.30pm. It was attended by most members, including Leader of the House, J.P. Nadda, and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju. After some discussion, the BAC decided to meet again at 4.30pm. At 4.30pm, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Jagdeep Dhankar. It waited for Nadda and Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Jagdeep Dhankar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending," Congress leader Ramesh said in a post on X. 

 

Ramesh said the BAC meeting was rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon. "Something very serious happened yesterday between 1pm and 4.30pm to account for the deliberate absence of Nadda and Rijiju from the second BAC yesterday," the Rajya Sabha MP noted. 

 

In an earlier tweet, Ramesh said he spoke over the phone with the vice president at 7.30pm on Monday, and the resignation was unexpected. "He was a stickler for norms, proprieties, and protocol, which he believed were being consistently disregarded in both his capacities. Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation speaks highly of him," the Congress leader noted.

 

Vice President Dhankhar announced his resignation on Monday, citing health reasons. His resignation comes a day after Parliament convened for the monsoon session. 

India