Former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday delivered his first public address since his unexpected resignation in July. He was speaking in Bhopal during the launch of a book authored by RSS Joint General Secretary Manmohan Vaidya.
Referring to his long spell away from public engagements, Dhankhar said, “Four months later, on this occasion, on this book, in this city, I should not hesitate to speak.”
Comments on RSS Narratives and CAA Protests
Discussing the book, Dhankhar said it counters long-held narratives portraying the RSS as “ultra-right” or “anti-minority”. He added that critics even attempted to link the organisation to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination, claims he said have now been “fully exposed”.
He also criticised protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), calling them “irrational”.
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References to His Resignation: ‘Duty Comes First’
During his speech, when aides reminded him of his scheduled flight, Dhankhar responded, “I cannot neglect my duty out of worry about catching my flight. And friends, my recent past is proof of it.”
Dhankhar stepped down as Vice President citing health reasons and has largely avoided public events since then, except for attending the swearing-in of Vice President CP Radhakrishnan in September.
RSS as a ‘Stabilising Force’ Amid Global Uncertainty
Dhankhar described the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh as “the most stabilising force in Bharat”, adding that Vaidya’s book had arrived at an appropriate time as the organisation approaches its centenary.
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He warned of rising global instability, citing expansionist strategies, economic strain, climate challenges, demographic shifts, and the emerging contest for dominance in technologies such as AI, machine learning, and blockchain.
“We see all around turbulence and disturbance, uncertainty and unpredictability. The only solution is to fall back on our civilisational essence,” he said.
