‘Resignation speaks highly of Dhankhar but poorly of those who got him elected’          

The opposition on Tuesday claimed the reasons behind Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation as the Vice President are “far deeper" than the health issues cited by him, with the Congress asserting that his resignation speaks highly of him but poorly of those who got him elected to the post.

The Congress also took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his “non-post" on X regarding the “forced resignation" has only added to the mystery of the abrupt exit.

The opposition said the prime minister could have been more gracious and asked the government to clarify the Vice President’s resignation.

Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, “PM’s non-post on X regarding Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar’s forced resignation has only added to the mystery of his abrupt exit. Surely the PM could have been a bit more gracious — he is, after all, the supreme master of hypocrisy."

“The kisanputra is being denied even a dignified farewell," he said in a post on X.

Prime Minister Modi wished Dhankhar good health and said he got many opportunities to serve the country in various capacities.

He said on X, “Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health."

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha said Dhankhar’s resignation was quite unexpected.

“While presiding over Rajya Sabha yesterday, he was his good jolly self!! Did the way he proactively handled the 2 impeachment motions (Justice Yadav & Verma) yesterday the last straw!!" he said on X.

Later, speaking to reporters, Tankha said, “It’s very unexpected. It shouldn’t have happened the way it has happened. There is an issue because he is healthy. He was in a jovial mood. However, something happened in the afternoon. Ministers didn’t appear for his meeting. He might have felt insulted."

Congress general secretary organisation KC Venugopal said the government has to clarify why the Vice President resigned.

Ramesh pointed out that Dhankhar chaired the BAC of the Rajya Sabha at 12.30 pm on Monday.

“It was attended by most members, including Leader of the House JP Nadda and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju. After some discussion, the BAC decided to meet again at 4.30 pm," he said in a post on X.

At 4.30 pm, the BAC reassembled under the chairmanship of Dhankhar, the Congress leader said.

“It waited for Shri Nadda and Shri Rijiju to arrive. They never came. Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar was not personally informed that the two senior Ministers were not attending. Rightly, he took umbrage and rescheduled the BAC for today at 1 pm," Ramesh claimed.

So “something very serious" happened yesterday between 1 pm and 4.30 pm to account for the deliberate absence of Nadda and Rijiju from the second BAC, he said in a post on Tuesday.

“Now, in a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so. Those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation," Ramesh claimed.

“Jagdeep Dhankar’s resignation speaks highly of him. It also speaks poorly of those who had got him elected as vice president in the first instance," he said.

Congress MP Akhilesh Prasad Singh said he had met Dhankhar on Monday at around 5.30 pm, and he was in a good mood. “This development is shocking, and the ruling side should intervene and bring him back.”

The AAP demanded a “clear explanation" from the government for the sudden resignation of Dhankhar, calling it a matter of “serious concern".

Addressing a press conference, Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh questioned the government’s “silence" and the “delayed response" from the Prime Minister.

Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said Dhankhar’s sudden resignation is clearly a reflection of the altered political priorities and power equations within the ruling party, notwithstanding the stated health reasons given by the vice president in his resignation letter.

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