Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has made a significant claim regarding the recent resignation of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, alleging that Dhankhar was forced out of office by the Modi government for choosing to act independently and uphold constitutional norms. Kharge asserts that Dhankhar faced threats and pressure from the government, ultimately leading to his ousting.
Kharge stated that after years of "harassing" the opposition, Dhankhar decided to adhere strictly to the rule book, which caused displeasure within the government. According to Kharge, the decision to admit the notice for the removal of Justice Shekhar Yadav, along with the one against Justice Yashwant Varma, particularly "riled" the government. Kharge alleges that Prime Minister Narendra Modi then presented Dhankhar with the option of either withdrawing his order or facing action, leading to Dhankhar's resignation.
Kharge recalled instances where Dhankhar, as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, had suspended a record number of MPs and suspended Congress MP Rajni Patil for seven months, actions Kharge characterized as undermining democracy. However, Kharge claims that Dhankhar's stance shifted when he began to assert his independence and allowed a notice for the opposition's motion to remove Justice Varma, which resulted in the government threatening and pressuring him.
Kharge's statements mark the first time that the Congress party has directly linked Dhankhar's resignation to governmental pressure on constitutional offices. Previously, Kharge had refrained from commenting on the reasons behind Dhankhar's departure, stating it was a matter between Dhankhar and Prime Minister Modi.
Dhankhar's resignation on July 21, citing medical reasons, had already sparked speculation in political circles. In his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, Dhankhar stated he was stepping down to "prioritise health care". However, Kharge's recent allegations suggest a more complex and politically charged motivation behind the resignation.
Kharge's criticism of Dhankhar extends beyond the circumstances of his resignation. He has also stated that Dhankhar consistently favored the government during his tenure as Rajya Sabha Chairman, often denying the opposition opportunities to raise important issues. Kharge has previously accused Dhankhar of acting like a "school headmaster" and functioning as a government spokesperson. He said that Dhankhar would stifle the Opposition's right to speak in the House but himself faced the axe when he began speaking freely.
Kharge has questioned the neutrality of Jagdeep Dhankhar and said that only he and PM Modi know the real reason behind his resignation. He also said that Dhankhar used to "defend" the BJP and the RSS more than the BJP-RSS people themselves.
Mallikarjun Kharge has characterized Jagdeep Dhankhar's "forced" resignation as the "biggest example" of institutional capture by the ruling BJP, alleging it occurred when Dhankhar began demonstrating independence. Kharge highlighted that the BJP and Prime Minister Modi were initially "very pleased" with Dhankhar when he was perceived to be suppressing the voices of MPs in the Rajya Sabha. However, he asserts that when Dhankhar "realised his own importance" and "started speaking independently," the situation changed.
