Jaipur:

Vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Wednesday that there are forces in the country and outside who are unable to digest India’s progress.

“This act of fragmenting the country, dividing the country, insulting the institutions of the country is being done in a planned manner. We must neutralise every anti-national narrative,” Mr Dhankhar said while addressing a programme here.

He said the country is witnessing economic development and taking a giant leap.

“A decade ago, our economy was faltering. Today, we are in the fifth position in the world and will be in the third position in a year or two,” the vice president said at the programme to launch a skill development centre.

Mr Dhankhar said “Developed India 2047” is no longer a dream, it is a goal.

“This goal will certainly be achieved. The challenge to become developed is that our per capita income must increase by eight times,” Mr Dhankhar said.

“But even after all this, there is one thing — nationalism, love for the nation. We are Indians. We can never compromise on nationalism. It is inherent in nationalism that every person in the country should be prosperous and happy and that is possible only when our thinking goes towards cottage industries, rural industries and small-scale industries,” he said.

He said both education and skill are important.

“After a long gap, after three decades of brainstorming, a new education policy has been created and a lot of attention has been given to skill in it,” Mr Dhankhar said.

He said there is a need for balance in the society.

“We have rights. But along with rights, we should also have a sense of duty,” he said.

The vice president also encouraged people for environment protection.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Demonising constitutional institutions and sermonising people is fast becoming a “pastime”, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Saturday and cautioned that such actions are a recipe for chaos.

He also said even those who “constitutionally matter in the political arena” are “sermonising all and demonising our constitutional institutions”.

Addressing an event of an educational institution here, the vice president said it is time to “bid adieu to this”.

“Also, I say with utmost restraint — time for our elites to be elites. To them, I appeal — to be a worthy elite, you have to be spurred by the fervour of nationalism,” he said, without naming anyone.

Dhankhar also spoke on the crucial role of the alumni in strengthening the educational ecosystem, urging for active participation and contributions to alumni associations.

“The alumni of an institution are in several ways its lifeline…. I strongly urge to have an alumni fund. Making annual contributions is all important. Some of the best institutions globally have been on an upward trajectory because these institutions are fuelled by alumni energy,” he said.

The vice president said associations of trade, industry, business, and commerce must also come forward to fuel research and spur innovation through liberal financial contributions.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar today doubled down on his comment in the Rajya Sabha that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) “has unimpeachable credentials”.

Mr Dhankhar’s response came to a swipe by Samajwadi Party MP Lal Ji Suman over the National Testing Agency (NTA) controversy that the Centre’s only yardstick to measure a person’s standing is to see whether they are from the RSS.

Taking strong exception to the remark, Mr Dhankhar shot back, “I have said so on the floor of the house, we cannot go in a manner to make it political…”

“… The member was not transgressing rules; he was trampling upon the Constitution of India. For this reason, an organisation I have said is fully entitled, the RSS is an organisation which is a global think tank of the highest order… I will not allow the honourable member to single out an organisation which is doing national service,” the Rajya Sabha Speaker said of the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor.

“Under the Constitution, the RSS has all the rights to contribute for national growth and development. I hereby rule that the RSS is an organisation that has full constitutional rights to participate in the development journey of this nation,” Mr Dhankhar said.

“This organisation bears unimpeachable credentials and comprises people who are deeply committed to serving the nation selflessly. To take exception that a member of this organisation cannot participate in the development journey of the nation is not only unconstitutional, but beyond the rules,” the Speaker said.

 Mr Dhankhar said he has been increasingly finding that people are engaging in divisive activities. “This is a pernicious design, a sinister mechanism to run down the growth of the country. I have reflected on several occasions that attempts being made within the country and outside to taint, tarnish, and demean our institutions, constitutional institutions, is to be deprecated by all of us. If we fail to do it, our silence on this occasion will resonate in our ears for years to come,” he said.

The INDIA bloc parties, led by the Congress, staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha on July 24, in protest against all States, except two, being “ignored” in the Union Budget, an allegation termed “outrageous” by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who said all the States never found a mention in any of the previous Budgets, including those presented by the Congress.

After Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar rejected notices under Rule 267 that called for the suspension of the listed agenda to take up the issue, Leader of Opposition and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the Union Budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year provided funds and schemes for only two States — Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

He said, “All other States did not find any mention,” terming the Budget a “kursi-bachao” document.

Mr. Kharge said the Congress and the other parties in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) “condemn” this discrimination. As Mr. Dhankhar gave the Finance Minster floor to respond, Mr. Kharge led the Opposition bloc out of the House, saying they were walking out in protest.

The Finance Minister said she did not name many States either in the Interim Budget presented in February, ahead of the general election or in the full Budget tabled in Parliament on July 23, but that does not mean that government schemes are not working for the States.

She cited the example of Maharashtra, which was not named in either of the Budgets, and said that did not prevent the Union Cabinet from approving the ₹76,000-crore Vadhavan port project in Dahanu in the State last month.

“Did Maharashtra get ignored because I did not mention the name of Maharashtra? (An amount of) ₹76,000 crore has been announced for that project,” she said. Ms. Sitharaman said she can cite several other States that have got major projects.

“If the speech does not mention the name of a particular State, does it mean that the schemes of the Government of India, the programmes of the Government of India, the externally-aided assistance, which we obtain from the World Bank, ADB, AIIB and institutions such as these do not go to these States? They go as per a routine,” she said.

“The expenditure statement of the government gives out the item-wise allocation,” the Finance Minister pointed out. “This is a deliberate attempt of the Opposition parties, led by the Congress, to give an impression to people that ‘oh, nothing has been given to our States, it has only been given to two States.”

“I would challenge the Congress party for all the Budget speeches they have delivered, that in each of the Budget speeches, have they named every State of the country?” she asked. “This is an outrageous allegation”, which is “not acceptable,” she added.

As the MPs belonging to the Opposition parties returned to the House, the Finance Minister said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had raised questions on Tuesday about nothing being given to West Bengal in the Budget, but the fact is that several schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last 10 years have not been implemented in the State.

Her statement was met with vociferous opposition from the TMC members, who said the BJP-led Centre owes ₹1 lakh crore to West Bengal.

Mr. Dhankhar said 20 hours have been allocated for a discussion on the General Budget and the MPs as well as the Finance Minister will get adequate time to raise issues and respond accordingly.

Mataji is an expert in speaking: Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on July 23 questioned Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the Union Budget and claimed that the plates of all States except Bihar and Andhra Pradesh were empty in the budget allocation.

Speaking at the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Kharge said that barring the States ruled by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies, several major States, including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, have received nothing in the Budget.

“I will not go into the argument of 267. In the Budget that was presented yesterday, nobody got anything. Sabke thali khali aur do ke thali mai pakoda aur jalebi. Yeh do States chor kar kuch nahi mila kuch. Neither Tamil Nadu, Kerala nor Karnataka got anything. Neither Maharashtra nor Punjab or Rajasthan and neither Chhattisgarh. Even Delhi did not receive anything nor did Odisha. I have not seen this kind of Budget until now. This Budget has been presented only to keep some people happy and it has all been done save their chairs, ‘Kursi bachane ke liye’ kiya gaya. We condemn this Budget and protest against it. Meri toh apeksha aaise thi ki sabse jayada budget se hamai (Karnataka) ko milega. But we got nothing. All the INDIA alliance parties will protest. From Kanyakumari to Kashmir, we will protest,”Mr. Kharge said.

Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankar interrupted and said, “Let Union Finance Minister speak,” to which Mr. Kharge said, “Mataji bolne mai toh expert hai mujhe maloom hai (she is expert in speaking, I am aware of that)”.

Mr. Dhankar further interrupted the two leaders and said, “Yeh mataji nahi yeh toh aapki beti ke barabar hai.” Mr. Kharge further said, “I condemn all this. In the States where the Opposition parties have been elected and you have been neglected. You have not provided anything to them in the Budget. How will development happen if there is no balance? I condemn this and all the parties condemn this type of attitude.”

After the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge walked out of Rajya Sabha, Jagdeep Dhankar said that democracy will be seriously threatened if disruption and disturbance are weaponised as a political strategy.

“Discussion on the Budget was listed today and I gave the floor to the Leader of the Opposition in expectation that rules will be followed. I find it has been used as a ploy and a strategy. Hon’ble Members, I strongly plead with you. Democracy will be seriously threatened if disruption and disturbance are weaponised as a political strategy as has been done now,” Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said.

“Parliament is a citadel of Constitutional and democratic values and liberties. I am aghast as a matter of fact when during the day and days following, we will have ample opportunity to reflect on the Budget presented by the Hon’ble Finance Minister, there was absolutely no occasion or justification, even remotely, to not avail the facility accorded by me for this purpose. I cannot persuade myself but to take serious exception to this unwholesome practice adopted by a senior Member, the Leader of the Opposition. I will call upon leaders of the parties to soul-search and my reflections about Rule 267 every day of the sitting I get a number of requests, it is being taken as a routine exercise as a habit. In spite of my serious observation yesterday no focus has taken place, I have again uploaded on the portal,” Mr. Dhankar added.

Outrageous allegation: Finance Minister

The Finance Minister lashed out at the Opposition’s claim that the Budget was ‘discriminatory’ and said that it was an ‘outrageous allegation’ and a deliberate attempt by the Opposition parties led by the Congress to give the people the wrong impression that their States were not allocated funds or schemes. FM Sitharaman reacted after Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge made claims that the Budget was discriminatory towards the States of the country.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the FM said, “It is unfortunate that the Opposition, particularly senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge, stood up to say what he heard of the Budget yesterday. Now that the Leader of the Opposition raised issues on the Budget, which was presented and tabled in the house yesterday. Just to the point he raised, I have not named many States and only spoken of two States. There are a few points I would like to make here as to what happens in a speech. The Congress party has been in power for a very long time in this country and they have presented so many Budgets that they would know clearly that in every Budget, you don’t get an opportunity to name every state of this country,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Opposition INDIA bloc MPs held a protest in the Parliament complex on July 24, against the Union Budget, presented on July 23 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. ”Opposition virodhi kursi bachao Budget murda baad” slogans were raised by the INDIA bloc leaders as they protested holding placards in the Parliament building, claiming that the Budget is “discriminatory” in nature.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party General Secretary K. C. Venugopal, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, TMC MP Dola Sen were seen participating in the protest.

New Delhi:

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has some advice for Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who has been questioning the Vice President’s frequent visit to the Congress-ruled state where the assembly election will be held soon.

At an election campaign in Rajasthan’s Neemrana, Mr Gehlot had objected to the Vice President’s visit to five districts since the election is near and the visit would “send all kinds of message, which is not good for democracy.”

“Politicians should come, but please do not send the Vice President; it is a constitutional post. We respect the President and the Vice President. Yesterday the Vice President came and visited five districts. It is election season. If you come now it will send all kinds of message which is not good for democracy,” Mr Gehlot told a gathering in Neemrana.

Vice President Dhankhar in an apparent response to Mr Gehlot said those in high positions should use responsible words.

“The higher the position a person holds, the more dignified his conduct should be. Making any comment to gain political advantage is not a good thing. I call upon everyone to be responsible when it comes to constitutional institutions,” the Vice President said.

The Vice President said it is a matter of “contemplation and concern that some people make indecent comments on constitutional institutions, wearing political glasses.”

“They should not do this; such behaviour is against our cultural heritage,” he said. “We must not look at constitutional functionaries with a political prism to score political points. That is not acceptable,” he added.

Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal had also asked Mr Gehlot whether the Vice President needs to take the Chief Minister’s permission for visiting Rajasthan.

“For the Vice President, the Chief Minister said why is he coming now? So the Vice President will come after getting permission from him?” Mr Meghwal told reporters in Jaipur on Thursday.

Mr Gehlot is on an intensive campaign across Rajasthan, touching 18 districts and heading into 38 constituencies. It’s also a part of “Mission 2030” outreach where Mr Gehlot is talking about his vision for Rajasthan till 2030.

Mr Gehlot strategy has a soft Hindutva subtext as he will also visit important temples during this campaign. His schedule shows he will visit at least 10 prominent and local temples during the third leg of this nine-day campaign before the election code kicks in.

Jaipur:

India is going to be on the top of the world by 2047 due to the young generation’s “commitment, directional approach and service to society”, said Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday.

Addressing students at an event at Sainik School in Jhunjhunu district, Jagdeep Dhankhar said India is rising like never before and will lead the world when the nation celebrates the centenary of Independence in 2047.

“You are the future of this country, you will shape this country. But boys and girls, you are lucky. You are fortunate that you are here at a time when India is rising as never before, rise of India is unstoppable, we are going to be world’s number one when we celebrate the centenary of our Independence in 2047,” said Jagdeep Jagdeep Dhankhar.  “And how will it be possible? You people will make it possible. Your commitment, your directional approach, your service to society will make Bharat ever proud,” he added.

Citing the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole of the Moon, Jagdeep Dhankhar said “history was created”.

“Chandrayaan 3 had a soft landing. Successful landing. History was created! India became one of the four countries to have this distinction, but the only country in the world to have the honour of landing on the south pole of the Moon,” he said.

Jagdeep Dhankhar asked the students to never be afraid of failures.

Giving example of the failure of Chandrayaan-2 when Jagdeep Dhankhar was West Bengal governor, he said the landing was not perfect then but the prime minister congratulated the ISRO for 96 per cent success in the mission.

“Never be afraid of failures. Fear of failure reduces your strength quite a lot. Never have tension… You will be able to perform much better. At Sainik School, I always would top in the class. But I was always in fear what would happen if I couldn’t come first? I left the school as the topper. “Later, I realised it doesn’t matter much whether you are on top or second position. So develop your personality in an integrated manner,” he said.

The vice president invited all the students in seven batches to visit Delhi as his guest to have a glimpse of functioning of the Parliament.  “Boys and girls, you are fortunate that you are contributing to India at a time when the country’s glory is being witnessed all over the world. In September 2022, India became the fifth largest economy in the world overtaking the UK. By the end of the decade, India will be the third largest economy,” he said.

The vice president, accompanied by his wife Sudesh Dhankhar, earlier offered prayers at Sri Surya Mandir in Lohargal and Rani Shakti Mandir in Jhunjhunu.

Jagdeep Dhankhar later left for Jaipur where he will be addressing another event at the National Institute of Ayurveda before leaving for the national capital. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)