New Delhi: Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden resignation as Vice-President of India on Monday night, citing health issues, has intrigued the country.
The Congress believes there’s more to Dhankhar’s quitting than meets the eye.
The ‘mystery’ has only deepened, not least because of the lack of an appropriate farewell, and a cryptic message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“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,” Modi’s post on X, nearly 15 hours after Dhankhar’s resignation, surprised many and was interpreted in several circles as a ‘cold’ farewell.
Congress leaders Supriya Shrinate and Abhishek Manu Singhvi described Modi’s uncharacteristic post as ‘cold and curt’. “If being cold and curt had a face —it’s this tweet! Such indifference!” Shrinate posted on X, sharing the PM’s message.
Dhankhar explained that his abrupt resignation, at the end of Day 1 of Parliament’s Monsoon session, was “to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice.”
Interestingly, Dhankhar had said less than a fortnight ago that he will retire in two years’ time.
“I will retire at the right time… in August 2027, subject to divine intervention,” Dhankhar had said in response to a question from the audience at an event on July 10 at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University.
One theory doing the rounds is that Dhankhar’s decision to accept the Opposition’s notice in Rajya Sabha, seeking removal of cash-at-home Justice Yashwant Varma, did not go down well with the Centre.
On the first day of Monsoon Session, Opposition MPs moved the notice against Justice Verma in Rajya Sabha, and Dhankhar, Chairman of the Upper House, accepted the notice and asked the secretary general to take necessary steps.
According to Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha, the Centre wanted to be seen as taking the lead in removing Justice Varma, and hence, Dhankhar’s statement in the Upper House on Monday — involving a notice signed by 63 Rajya Sabha Opposition MPs for a motion to impeach the controversial judge – upset the Union cabinet.
Before the Centre could take ‘action’ against him, Dhankhar himself moved away on what appears to be ‘flimsy’ health grounds.
JAGDEEP DHANKAR RESIGNATION TIMELINE
* July 21, 12.30 pm: Vice-President attends meeting of the business advisory committee, panel decides to meet at 4.30 pm again.
* 2 pm: Dhankhar accepts Opposition-backed motion, the government is not pleased
* 4.07 pm: Vice-President informs the House that the Opposition-backed motion has been accepted.
* 4.30 pm: Business advisory committee meets, no representative from the government is present, the meeting is deferred.
* 5 pm: Congress leaders meet the Vice-President, another meeting with Opposition MPs follows
* 9.25 pm: Dhankhar announces his resignation through Vice-President’s handle on X
* 12 pm, July 22: President Droupadi Murmu accepts resignation.
