New Delhi:

Launching a stinging attack on Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi without naming him, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday said there is nothing more “condemnable and despicable” than someone who holds a constitutional post “becoming part of” the enemies of the nation. 

Mr Dhankhar’s comments come a day after the BJP hit out at Mr Gandhi, with Union Minister Amit Shah leading the charge and alleging that it has become a habit for the Congress leader to stand with “forces that conspire to divide the country”. The Vice President’s volley was prompted by Mr Gandhi’s remarks during his visit to the US  in which he spoke – among other things – about reservation and religious freedom in India.

Addressing Rajya Sabha interns at Parliament House, the Vice President accused the Congress leader of having no idea of Bharat, the Constitution and national interest and said he was sure people’s hearts must be bleeding at what they had seen. 

“Imagine, the ultimate sacrifice has been given by how many in getting this freedom, in protecting this freedom, in protecting the nation. Our brothers and sisters are also involved in combat positions. Mothers have lost their sons,  wives have lost their husbands. We can’t ridicule our nationalism,” Mr Dhankhar thundered. 

“Every Indian outside the country has to be an ambassador of this nation. How painful that one who holds a Constitutional position is doing just the reverse of it. Nothing can be more condemnable, despicable and intolerable than that you become part of enemies of the nation! They do not understand the value of freedom. They do not understand that this country has a civilisational depth of 5,000 years,” he added.

Mr Dhankhar said the Constitution was sacred and a result of three years of painstaking work through debate, dialogue and deliberation. 

“The challenges before them were Himalayan, insurmountable. The issues were divisive, there could not be easy consensus. They worked for it, they worked for us. And now, some people want to divide our nation. This is ignorance in extremity,” the Vice President added. 

On Wednesday, Mr Gandhi had clarified his remarks on reservation – he had said that the Congress will “think of ending reservation when India is a fair place” – and insisted that his party would take the quota limit beyond 50%.

“Yesterday someone misrepresented my statement that I am against reservation. But let me make it clear – I am not against reservation. We will take reservation beyond the limit of 50 per cent,” he said during an interview at the National Press Club in the US.

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.)