Patna (Bihar) [India], July 22 : Following the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Mrityunjay Tiwari claimed that citing health reasons for the resignation seemed to be an excuse, but in reality, it appeared that he was hurt by the BJP government challenging his privileges.
Speaking to ANI, Tiwari claimed that Dhankhar tendered his resignation under "some pressure".
"Only he knows the health reasons for which he resigned, but it appears that he has given this resignation under some pressure. He must have been hurt in some way by the BJP challenging his privileges in Rajya Sabha. There must be some reason why he resigned; health reasons seem to be an excuse, but in reality, it seems that he is hurt by this government," the RJD leader said.
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday refrained from commenting on the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, saying that either the government or he himself knows the reason.
Speaking to the media, Kharge said, "Only he knows the reason. We have nothing to say on this. Either the government knows or he knows. It is up to the government to accept his resignation or not."
Meanwhile, Congress leader Sukhdeo Bhagat suggested that Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation might have been preplanned, citing the "disappearance" of Union Minister JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju from the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting held earlier on Monday.
While praying for Dhankar's good health, the Congress MP also mentioned that the Vice President's resignation was "sudden" and "unexpected," saying that if Dhankar stepped down due to health reasons, then he could have done it before the commencement of the Parliament monsoon session.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on Monday from his post "to prioritise health care and abide by medical advice."
"To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the constitution," the letter said.
The Vice President also expressed his deep gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers.
"Prime Minister's cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office," he said.
Dhankhar said that the warmth, trust, and affection he has received from all the Members of Parliament will be cherished and embedded in his memory.
The resignation came on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. Dhankhar was sworn in as the 14th Vice President of India on August 11, 2022. As Vice President, he also served as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.