‘Concerning,’ VP Dhankhar condemns Congress for ‘Bangladesh could happen in India’ remark

India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday (Aug 10) condemned the opposition Congress party over remarks prophesying Bangladesh-like anti-government uprising in India. Bangladesh has been rocked by violent anti-government student protests over the past weeks, leading to the resignation of Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina and the formulation of an interim government.

Dhankhar stopped short of naming anyone but it was obvious he was referring to remarks made by Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Mani Shankar Aiyar.

“Be on watch out!! Efforts by some to infuse a narrative that what happened in our neighbourhood is bound to happen in our Bharat, is deeply concerning,” the Vice President said at the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Rajasthan High Court. “How can a citizen of this country having been a Member of Parliament (Khurshid), and the other (Aiyar) who has seen enough of Foreign Services takes no time in saying that what happened in the neighbourhood will happen in India?” he questioned.

Congress leaders’ controversial remarks

While speaking at a book release eventon Tuesday (Aug 6), Salman Khurshid said that though "everything may look normal on the surface", what is happening in Bangladesh could happen in India.

PM Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly targetedCongress over the remarks, dubbing it as a “warning” from the opposition party.

“This is a serious issue. When we are witnessing such a situation in neighbouring countries, the main opposition party Congress wants the same situation in India," BJP MP Sambit Patra told reporters outside Parliament.

Another Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma from the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh made a similar comment, saying people in India would one day ‘storm’ the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Bangladesh situation

In neighbouring Bangladesh, PM Hasina was forced to tender her resignation and flee the nation after deadly riots posed a direct challenge to her 15-year rule.

Watch:New Red Line for India’s Rupee is forming as pressure mounts

Even the Bangladesh army reportedly refused to implement Hasina’s curfew order, which left her vulnerable and with no option but to hang up her boots.

(With inputs from agencies)