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In first speech after resigning as VP, Jagdeep Dhankhar praises RSS and references his long absence from public spotlight

At a book launch event in Bhopal, he praised the RSS as ‘country’s most stabilising force’

As he took the stage at the launch of Hum aur yeh Vishwa (We and the World), Dhankhar made multiple references to his long absence from the spotlight. “Four months later, on this occasion, on this book, in this city, I should not hesitate to speak,” he said. (Screenshot: X/PTI)

Former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar Friday spoke for the first time in public after his sudden resignation in July — calling the RSS the country’s “most stabilising force” — as he launched a book by the Sangh’s joint general secretary Manmohan Vaidya in Bhopal.

Dhankhar said Vaidya’s book dismantles “long propagated myths portraying RSS as ultra-right and anti-minority”. “They go to the extent of linking it (RSS) even to the assassination of Gandhi. The untenability of all this is now fully exposed,” he said.

Dhankhar then mentioned “irrational protests” against the CAA, and added: “But then, friends, we are living in tough times. No one knows more than I do. We are in tough times. But then, one has to hold one’s own.”

VIDEO | Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has maintained a low profile since stepping down exactly four months ago citing health reasons, made his first public address on Friday at a book launch, praising the RSS philosophy and vision of making a stronger nation.

Jagdeep Dhankhar says,… pic.twitter.com/496pmUvF0u

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 21, 2025

As the former VP was speaking, his aides alerted him about his upcoming flight. “Main flight pakadne ke chinta se apne kartavya ko nahin chhod sakta (I cannot neglect my duty out of worry about catching my flight),” he said. “And friends, my recent past is proof of it.”

Also Read | Jagdeep Dhankhar’s turbulent innings: Shifting loyalties to Raj Bhavan rows to stormy Rajya Sabha stint

Dhankhar had cited “health reasons” while resigning as vice president in July. The resignation came on a day he presided over Rajya Sabha. Since then, he has largely kept out of the public eye — except for an appearance at his successor C P Radhakrishnan’s swearing-in in September.

At Friday’s book launch in Bhopal, the former VP said Vaidya’s book came at an opportune time — “the centenary celebrations of RSS, the most stabilising force in Bharat, home to one sixth of humanity and for global welfare”.

Dhankar warned that “amid unprecedented global churning in security, we find security getting threatened”.

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“Expansion becoming a state policy of some countries. Economic challenges and menacing climate change alongside and you know it more than I do, demographic anxieties, demographic variations with a purpose, demographic variations linked to grabbing of power, information warfare… Artificial intelligence, internet of things, blockchain, machine learning, and then there is civilizational contestation. It urges India to draw on its deepest heritage,” he said.

He said the world was facing challenges where “people are restive”.

“We see all round turbulence and disturbance, uncertainty and unpredictability. And the only solution to that is we must fall back to our civilisational essence,” he said.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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