Congress leader Kapil Sibal voiced concern on Saturday about the ‘disappearance’ of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar following his abrupt exit from the top post. He also demanded a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on the matter. Opposition leaders have repeatedly claimed that the top official was “forced” to resign.
‘Laapataa vice president’
“Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. Can we be informed: Where is he? Is he safe? Why is he incommunicado? Amit Shah ji should know! He was our Vice President…the country should be worried!” Sibal wrote on X.
The Rajya Sabha MP also said that he had called Dhankhar earlier but failed to connect with the him. Sibal said the call was received by a personal assistant who merely explained that the former VP was ‘resting’. Subsequent calls had gone unanswered. The senior Congress leader said many other political leaders had also tried unsuccessfully to connect with Dhankhar.
“After his resignation, we do not know anything about his whereabouts. I had previously heard about the ‘Laapataa Ladies,’ but this is the first time I have heard about the ‘Laapataa’ vice president… Now it seems that the opposition will have to protect him…The Home Ministry must have received information related to this, so Amit Shah should issue a statement regarding it… I am worried about him,” he added.
BJP spokesperson expelled
The Rajasthan unit of the BJP expelled spokesperson Krishna Kumar Janu for six years on Saturday — citing his public criticism of the party’s “treatment” of former governor Satya Pal Malik and ex-vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar. Party officials said the decision was taken following a disciplinary process initiated in June.
Controversy had erupted after a video of Janu criticising senior BJP leaders went viral on social media platforms. He had lambasted the “humiliating treatment” of Malik and highlighted the abrupt exit of Dhankhar from the Vice Presidential post. Janu questioned MPs, MLAs, and other office bearers from the community working within the BJP — asking how they could be sure similar treatment would not be meted out to them.
(With inputs from agencies)