Cong Calls Dhankhar's Exit a 'Political Move Masked as Constitutional Lie', Slams Govt for 'Petty Politics'

New Delhi

The Congress on Saturday described ex-vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar's ouster as a "political exit camouflaged as a constitutional lie", as it accused the government of indulging in "petty politics" by not admitting the Opposition's motion against Justice Yashwant Varma in Rajya Sabha.

Addressing a press conference, Congress senior spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi further alleged that the government was adopting "double standards" on the issue of judicial accountability by acting against Justice Varma, who is embroiled in a suspected corruption case, but ignoring the motion against Justice Shekhar Yadav of Allahabad High Court.

Last December, Opposition MPs moved an impeachment notice in Rajya Sabha against Justice Yadav for allegedly delivering a hate speech at a gathering.

Singhvi said the Congress is "very concerned" about the "selective outrage and selective silence" on the issue of two judges - Justice Varma and Justice Yadav.

"This is typical of BJP's double standards and yet another example of BJP's and the Modi Sarkar's 'theatre of the absurd'. The BJP's game of motions is less about law and more about optics. A desperate dance to distract and dominate. And, how petty a dance to distract and dominate -- Our house Lok Sabha first and not Rajya Sabha and out you go Mr Vice President.

"On judicial propriety, on anti-corruption movement and on judicial accountability, the BJP's mantra is -- 'Talk the talk, never walk the talk, Keep talking the talk'. It is the worst example of doublespeak and hypocrisy on this entire episode," he said.

On Dhankhar's sudden resignation, Singhvi said, "It appears that Mr Dhankhar's showing of some minimal independence possibly belatedly was his real mistake. No other mistake."

"The best way to describe ex-vice president Dhankhar's departure, a political exit camouflaged as a constitutional lie," he alleged.