Even before resigning from the post of Vice President, Union Ministers Kiren Rijiju and Jagat Prakash Nadda had contacted Jagdeep Dhankhar. It is reported that during this time there was a discussion on accepting the impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Verma in the Rajya Sabha. It is being said that the government was angry with Dhankhar for accepting this motion of the opposition. However, nothing has been said officially about this. Dhankhar has said that he is resigning due to health reasons.

In a conversation with Hindustan Times, people familiar with the matter say, ‘Rijiju had told Dhankhar that the process of building a consensus on impeachment is going on in the Lok Sabha. He also said that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has signed the notice. He also indicated that the Prime Minister is not happy with this development. Sources told the newspaper that Dhankhar indicated that he has done everything according to the rules of the House.

Earlier, speaking to the newspaper, a Lok Sabha official had said, ‘The government wanted to bring the impeachment motion in the Lok Sabha first. It would have been seen as a success of the government and a clear message would have been sent to the judiciary, but Dhankhar snatched the credit.

Dhankhar did not listen to the government?

According to an India Today report, sources say that Rijiju, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and JP Nadda had asked the Vice President to wait. The ministers said that efforts are on to build a consensus on the joint impeachment motion. According to the report, Dhankhar announced that he has obtained the signatures of opposition MPs in the Rajya Sabha. It is being said that Dhankhar took such a step even after repeated reminders by the Center.

According to the report, four-five days before the monsoon session began, Rijiju had informed the Vice President about the Center’s preparations to bring an impeachment motion against Justice Verma. Dhankhar was told that a similar motion would be brought in the Rajya Sabha. Rijiju had informed the former vice president about this a day before the monsoon session began and before Dhankhar abruptly left the Rajya Sabha.

By that time, the government had secured the required signatures of members, including opposition MPs, in the lower house. According to the report, Dhankhar met opposition leaders on Sunday and Monday and discussed the impeachment of Justice Verma. However, Dhankhar did not break his silence on the talks with opposition leaders.

According to the report, by Monday morning it was clear that the vice president had met the senior Congress leader and was preparing to formally accept the signatures of opposition leaders. According to the channel’s report, by then the government had spoken to the vice president three times, saying that the signatures should also include those of ruling party MPs, as the agenda has been decided by consensus.

This is where things went wrong

According to India Today, first Nadda and Rijiju met the vice president. Later, Rijiju and Meghwal went to meet him and for the third time, only Meghwal met Dhankhar. In this third meeting, it was said that the government should also be taken into confidence and the signatures of the ruling party MPs are also necessary. It is reported that the Vice President did not agree to this and did not give any assurance to the government. According to the report, he clearly indicated that he would read out the list of opposition MPs in the House.

Dhankhar started packing his belongings

Dhankhar has started packing his belongings and will soon vacate the Vice President’s Enclave. Sources gave this information to PTI Bhasha on Wednesday. Being a former Vice President, Dhankhar is entitled to a government bungalow. Sources said that the Dhankhar couple started packing their belongings on Tuesday. They said that they will soon vacate the government residence. Dhankhar moved to live in the newly built Vice President’s Enclave located at Church Road near the Parliament House complex in April last year.

An official of the Urban Development Ministry said on Tuesday, “He (Dhankhar) will be given a Type-8 bungalow in Lutyens Delhi or some other area.” Type-8 bungalows are usually allotted to senior Union ministers or presidents of national parties. Dhankhar had resigned from the post of Vice President on Monday citing health reasons.