Still seeking (ex-)Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, say Oppn

Speaking at a function to felicitate new Opposition candidate for the vice-presidential elections Justice B. Sudershan Reddy in the central hall of Samvidhan Sadan (the older, original parliament building), Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi today, 20 August, naturally also remembered the outgoing incumbent — former vice-president and de factor Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.

"Where is the old vice-president gone? Why is he in hiding?" Gandhi wondered.

"Think, what kind of times are we living in," the Congress leader said, "that the vice-president of India cannot say a word."

There was a story there, he hinted, and a story behind his sudden stepping down on 21 July too.

भारत के पूर्व उपराष्ट्रपति आखिर छुपे हुए क्यों हैं? क्यों ऐसी नौबत आ गई कि वो बाहर आ कर एक शब्द भी नहीं बोल सकते?

सोचिए, हम कैसे समय में जी रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/Gzbkuyu6zE

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 20, 2025

Recalling the day, Gandhi remembered fellow Congress leader K.C. Venugopal telling him "he [Dhankhar] is gone!" — and added, "There is a big story about why he resigned. Some of you might know it, some of you might not know it. But there is a story behind it."

"And then there is a story about why he is in hiding. Why the (former) vice president of India is in a situation where he cannot say a word, one word, and has to hide...," Gandhi continued.

"Suddenly, the person who used to burst forth in the Rajya Sabha has gone silent, completely silent. So, these are the times we are living in...," he concluded.

Just yesterday, 19 August, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah had likewise expressed his discomfort with the sudden disappearance of the ex-vice-president, and said he would pray for his safety and health.

VIDEO | On INDIA bloc leaders announcing B. Sudershan Reddy as their Vice Presidential candidate, J&K CM Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) says, “We still cannot understand why these Vice Presidential polls were forced upon us. Where has former Vice President Dhankhar gone? I hope… pic.twitter.com/iMZz4LfiDt

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 19, 2025

Jagdeep Dhankhar: The curious case of a ‘missing’ former vice president