NEW DELHI: It is inappropriate to "drag" into petty politics a person holding a constitutional post, vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar said on Friday during his visit to Rajasthan. Dhankhar was responding, without naming Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, to the latter's barbs about the VP's frequent visits to the poll-bound state.
Asserting that respect must be accorded to constitutional positions, Dhankhar said, "Some people are saying why are you coming here again and again... I do not expect, people in authority to make statements in light of constitutional positions. There must be respect for constitutional positions and all of us in togetherness, hand in hand, in collaboration and coordination with a consensual approach, have to serve the people at large..."
During an election programme in Jaipur in September, Gehlot said, "Politicians should come, but please do not send the vice president, as it is a Constitutional post. Yesterday the vice president came and visited five districts. It is election season. If you come now it will send all kinds of messages, which are not good for democracy," Gehlot had said during a programme on September 27.