Vice President

Extensions in service setback to those who are in line: V-P Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Saturday that extensions in service, extensions in any form for a particular post are set back to those who are in line. Dhankhar was delivering the inaugural address at the 25th National Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commission being held in Bengaluru. According to him, extension of service indicates that some individuals are indispensable. "Indispensability is a myth. Talent abounds in this country. No one is indispensable. And therefore, it lies in the domain of public service commissions at the state and the central level that when they have a role in such kinds of situations, they must be firm," added the VP. He also said public service commissions' appointments cannot be driven by patronage, or by favouritism. "We cannot have a public service commission Chairman or a member, wedded to a particular ideology or an individual. That will be undoing the essence and spirit of the framework of the constitution," said ...

Culture of VIP darshan in temples must be stopped: Vice President Dhankar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Tuesday that we should do away with the VIP culture, particularly in temples, as the very idea of VIP darshan militates against divinity. He also called upon the people to rise above the politics of disruption and help the country reach its objective of a developed India by 2047. "When precedence is accorded and priority is given to someone -- when we label it as VVIP or VIP -- this is belittling the concept of equality. VIP culture is an aberration. It is an incursion. When viewed on the anvil of equality, it should have no place in society, much less in religious places," said Dhankhar. The Vice President was launching the country's largest 'queue complex' at Sri Manjunatha Temple here. The facility is known as 'Shri Saanidhya'. While delivering his keynote address, Dhankhar criticised the tendency prevailing in today's political milieu, where people, instead of engaging in dialogue, disrupt democratic values. According to him, the politic

VP Dhankhar urges youth to remain vigilant against anti-national forces

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday urged the country's youth to "stay vigilant" against "anti-national forces", saying it alone will secure India's democratic values. In his address at a ceremony at the Delhi Cantonment here to mark the formal inauguration of the NCC Republic Day Camp, he also said "nationalism has to override all other interests, personal or organisational". The vice president said the foundation of "our national transformation" rests on five basic pillars and these include social harmony, environmental protection and adherence to civic duties. "Our Constitution gives us fundamental rights and we are conscious of those fundamental rights but there are fundamental duties also. Nations blossom, nationalism is nurtured, growth is secured, harmony is stabilised when every citizen of the country believes and subscribes to fundamental duties. For civic duties, you as a disciplined members of the force can really be torch-bearers," he added. A total of 2,361 NCC .

Adopt 'nation first' mindset to counter inimical forces, says V-P Dhankar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday stressed on the need for citizens to adopt a "nation first" mindset to counteract forces, both internal and external, that struggle to accept India's rapid progress. Dhankhar, who was speaking at a convention of organic farmers in Medak district of Telangana, also underscored that dialogue is the only way to address problems in a democracy. "Today, I see that farmers are worried about certain issues. If any section of society is worried, it is necessary to resolve it positively and without delay. In a democracy, the only way to resolve issues is through dialogue. I have said on numerous occasions that dialogue is the only way to find solutions to problems in a democracy," he said. Dhankhar added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi while speaking at international forums, has also advocated for dialogue. The conflagrations that are seen in the world are ended only through dialogue." Dhankhar stressed that every Indian must maintain an ...

Notice for my removal from post was a rusted knife, says V-P Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday said one should not use a vegetable-cutting knife for bypass surgery and asserted that the notice for his removal from the post was actually a "rusted" tool. In his first reaction on the notice submitted by the opposition INDIA bloc, Dhankhar said, "Just look at the notice against the vice president. Just look at the six links they have given. "You'll be shocked. Chandra Shekhar ji once said, 'Never use a vegetable-cutting knife for bypass surgery'. The notice wasn't even a vegetable-cutting knife; it was rusted. There was haste." The notice was rejected by Rajya Sabha Deputy Chair Harivansh. "When I read it, I was astonished. But what surprised me more was that none of you read it. If you had, you wouldn't have been able to sleep for days," he told a group of women journalists. Dhankhar said any constitutional position has to be vindicated by commitment to sublimity, sterling qualities and constitutionalism. "We are not in a position t

V-P Dhankar calls for accountability of MPs over Parliament disruptions

Against the backdrop of Parliament witnessing poor productivity due to disruptions, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday called for accountability of lawmakers and said people would force them to think why they were sent to Parliament. He also said that for any democracy to succeed, expression and dialogue must go hand in hand with great responsibility on both sides. Dhankhar is the Rajya Sabha's ex-officio chairman. Calling for accountability among parliamentarians, he said, "... Make no mistake, I am referring to parliamentarians. People have learned to take disorder as order. There is no sense of revulsion." Hopefully, people will write and their thoughts will move, the vice-president said, according to an official statement. "People will force you to think, why did you go there (Parliament)?" he said. Addressing awardees of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Awards - 2024, the vice-president said agriculture was the spine of rural development. "Unless agriculture develops, the

Inconceivable that NEP not implemented in some states: V-P Dhankhar

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said it was "inconceivable" that the NEP was yet to be implemented in some states, and rued the lack of "pressure" by the academia, intelligentsia and the media on them to do so. Dhankhar said it was time that people leave behind partisan thinking and prioritise the country's interests. "Let nationalism and the principle of nation first always guide us," he said referring to opposition to the National Education Policy (NEP) by some state governments. "I am pained and disturbed on two counts -- one, some states have not adopted it. I am sure this is inconceivable on any rational ground. How can this happen? And this happens because academia, intelligentsia, those in journalism they don't generate that pressure," he said while addressing the 5th Global Alumni Meet at the Panjab University here on the theme "Promoting Collaboration for Excellence and Sustainability". We cannot afford to engage in politics at the cost of nationalism or ...

RS dy chairman dismisses opposition's notice seeking V-P Dhankhar's removal

Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh on Thursday dismissed the impeachment notice given by the opposition seeking the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar while ruling it as an act of impropriety, being severely flawed and drawn in haste to mar his reputation, sources said. In his ruling, which was tabled in the House by Rajya Sabha secretary general P C Mody, the deputy chairman said the impeachment notice is part of a design to denigrate the nation's constitutional institutions and malign the incumbent Vice President, the sources said. At least 60 opposition members had signed the notice for removal of Dhankhar from his post on December 10, alleging that they did not have trust in him and that he was "biased". The deputy chairman ruled that the gravity of this "personally targeted" notice which is bereft of facts and aimed at securing publicity. He also held that the notice was a "misadventure" in "deliberate trivialising and demeaning" of the high constitutional office o

VP Dhankhar meets Armenian delegation, discusses strengthening ties, trade

They also discussed the importance of parliamentary exchanges in further consolidating India-Armenia relations

Development, nationalism have to be viewed from prism of Preamble: VP

Development, nationalism, security, welfare of the people and affirmative government schemes have to be viewed only from the "one prism" of the Preamble of the Constitution, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Monday. In his address at an event here to mark the 7th Defence Estate Day, he also referred to his position on the dais, where he was flanked by the director general of the Defence Estate on his right and the secretary of ex-servicemen welfare department on his left. "When I occupied the central seat here (dais), I was reminded of my position as chairman of Rajya Sabha. When I sit in the chair (in Rajya Sabha), on my right is the government, on the left is the opposition", he said. Here, on the right, is DG, Defence Estate, "I am sure, I have no problem with him" and "fortunately for me, on my left" is the secretary, department of ex-servicemen welfare, "constructive, directional, motivational, always helpful", the VP said in an apparent reference to the opposition. "I .

Vice President Dhankhar raises concerns over commercialisation of education

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday expressed concerns over the commercialisation of education and called for brainstorming efforts to address it, stressing that it should be imparted in the spirit of service. Calling education an important tool, he said it can bring equality, boost democracy and ensure prosperity in the world. Dhankhar was addressing students after unveiling a statue of Jiwajirao Scindia of the Scindia dynasty at the Jiwaji University in Gwalior. He said that the path of showing interest in education was paved by Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia, and urged industries, businesses and institutions to invest in education. I appeal to industry, trade, business and corporates and their associations to take a policy decision to pool their CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds to bring about institutions and nurture them because investment in education is not only for the present but also for the future and assures our growth to be transformed from incremental to .

Kharge accuses VP Dhankhar of suppressing Opposition's freedom of speech

Asserting that "trampling of democracy" has become the norm in Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition in the House Mallikarjun Kharge Thursday alleged abuse of power by Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and questioned his impartiality. The Congress chief alleged the Rajya Sabha chairman has consistently suppressed the freedom of expression of Opposition members through "persistent heckling, unwarranted insistence on authentication, unfair remarks, and the refusal to list issues of public importance for discussion". His scathing criticism of the vice president comes a couple of days after Opposition INDIA bloc parties, spearheaded by the Congress, submitted a notice in Rajya Sabha for moving a no-confidence motion against Dhankhar, accusing him of being "extremely partisan". On behalf of the Opposition, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Naseer Hussain on Tuesday submitted the notice signed by 60 opposition MPs -- including from the Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, JMM, AAP, DMK, Samajwadi Party -

BJP, Opposition clash over no-confidence notice against Jagdeep Dhankhar

Maharashtra CM Fadnavis calls on President Murmu, Vice President Dhankhar

Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis assumed office after taking oath as the Chief Minister for the third time

Some forces unable to digest India's progress: VP Jagdeep Dhankar

INDIA bloc parties submitted a no-confidence motion at the Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody's office, seeking the removal of the Chairperson of the Upper House

Dhankhar acts like a school headmaster: Kharge on no-confidence motion

Kharge said that Dhankhar, as Rajya Sabha Chairman, acts like a 'school headmaster' and gives sermons to experienced opposition leaders while stopping them from speaking

Moved notice for RS chairman's removal over biased behaviour: Opposition

Several opposition parties on Wednesday said the "partisan" conduct of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar prompted them to move a notice for his removal as vice president and alleged that politics has taken precedence over rules in the Upper House of Parliament. Addressing a press conference at the Constitution Club here, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that Dhankhar is working as a government spokesperson and acting like a school headmaster, often sermonising experienced opposition leaders and preventing them from speaking in the House. Khage also claimed that Dhankhar himself is responsible for the disruptions in the House. "The Rajya Sabha chairman's conduct has been contrary to the dignity of the post he holds. He targets opposition leaders and often praises the government," Kharge said. "Politics has taken precedence over rules in the Rajya Sabha and the chairman has indulged in partisan behaviour," he alleged. The Congress chief said since 1952, no resolutio

Maritime sector key to India's vision of 3rd largest economy: VP Dhankhar

India's maritime sector is poised to play a transformative role in the country's vision of becoming world's third-largest economy, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said Wednesday. Today, India stands as an emerging maritime powerhouse, strategically leveraging its geographical location and advanced infrastructure to spearhead global maritime initiatives, the Vice President said. "With the global blue economy projected to reach USD 6 trillion by 2030, India's maritime sector stands poised to play a transformative role in our emergence as the world's third-largest economy," he said at the Indian Maritime Heritage Conclave (IMHC) 2024. India is strategically developing its blue economy, emphasising sustainable ocean resource utilisation for economic growth and employment generation, Dhankhar said. The government's Sagarmala programme integrates ports with industrial clusters, optimising logistic networks, fostering comprehensive coastal development. The Coastal Shipping Bill 2024 ...

Explained: What pushed INDIA bloc's no-confidence against Jagdeep Dhankhar?

The INDIA bloc has accused Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar of bias, citing his acceptance of BJP speeches linking Sonia Gandhi to George Soros while dismissing 11 opposition notices

Ruling NDA MPs term notice against VP Dhankhar politically motivated

Opposition parties on Tuesday submitted a notice to move a motion for removing Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for allegedly conducting the House in a partisan manner. Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Naseer Hussain submitted the notice to Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody. The vice president is the ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha. The sources said about 60 opposition MPs -- including from the Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, JMM, AAP, DMK -- have signed the notice. However, they said top Congress leaders who hold Constitutional posts have not signed the notice. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the floor leaders of various opposition parties are also not among the signatories, the sources said. The notice, spearheaded by the Congress, comes in the wake of turbulent ties between opposition parties and the Rajya Sabha chairman. "ALL parties belonging to the INDIA group have had no option but to formally submi