Amid rising speculation over former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar’s resignation, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday clarified that Dhankar stepped down due to health reasons, dismissing opposition claims that he was under “house arrest.”
In an interview, Shah said, “Dhankar Sahab’s resignation letter is self-explanatory. He has clearly mentioned health issues as the reason for his decision and has expressed deep gratitude to the Prime Minister, ministers, and government colleagues for their support during his tenure.”
When asked about opposition claims that former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar was under “house arrest,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the interpretation of truth and lies cannot be based solely on opposition statements and cautioned against creating unnecessary controversy over his resignation.
“It seems like your interpretation of truth and lies is based on what the opposition says. We shouldn’t make a fuss out of all this. Dhankar held a constitutional post and discharged his duties in line with the constitution. He resigned due to personal health reasons. One should not deliberate much on the issue,” Shah said.
The remarks come after opposition leaders questioned the sudden resignation, alleging that Dhankar had been “silenced” by the government. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called it the first instance in the country’s history where a Vice President’s resignation was accompanied by silencing.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also targeted the Centre, accusing the BJP of taking the country “back to medieval times.” He claimed that institutions were being misused to suppress elected representatives and questioned Dhankar’s absence from public view.
Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal went a step further, suggesting whether a habeas corpus petition should be filed to ensure Dhankar’s well-being.
The BJP, however, has consistently maintained that Dhankar resigned purely on health grounds, denying any rift.
Jagdeep Dhankar resigned on July 21, the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament, citing the need to “prioritise health care and follow medical advice.” At the time, he was serving as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and handed over his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu. (Agencies)