Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday dismissed speculation that former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was under “house arrest” after his resignation, clarifying that Dhankhar stepped down purely on health grounds.
Amit Shah’s Clarification
In an interview with ANI, Shah said Dhankhar’s resignation letter itself made his reasons clear. “Dhankhar sahab cited health reasons and expressed gratitude towards the Prime Minister and colleagues for his tenure. We should not make a fuss out of this,” he said. Shah strongly rebutted opposition claims, insisting that Dhankhar resigned due to personal health concerns and not under any political pressure.
Opposition Questions and Speculation
Opposition parties, however, raised doubts about the sudden resignation. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged the government was silencing Dhankhar, likening the move to “medieval times” where leaders could be removed at will. Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal even suggested whether a habeas corpus petition should be filed, given Dhankhar’s absence from public view.
BJP’s Firm Stand
The BJP has consistently maintained there are no differences with Dhankhar. Shah underlined that “a Chief Minister, Prime Minister, or any leader cannot run governance from jail,” indirectly referencing broader political debates around recently introduced constitutional amendment bills. He accused the opposition of trying to mislead the public with baseless claims.
Background
Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21, the opening day of the monsoon session of Parliament, citing medical advice. At the time, he was serving as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu. His exit sparked intense political speculation as it coincided with high-voltage debates on contentious constitutional amendments.
