Fewer foreign trips, protocol lapses upset Dhankhar; former Vice President felt he had a diminished role
The differences over his MEA assignments were amongst the reasons for the discord between the former Vice-President and the government, and a source of grievance for Mr. Dhankhar, who felt his role, especially on foreign policy issues, was less than that of his predecessors.
According to the MEA's website, Mr. Dhankhar's four visits included two that came shortly after he took over as Vice-President in August 2022, and subsequently the frequency of these visits tapered off. In comparison, his immediate predecessor Venkaiah Naidu had 13 foreign tours during his tenure between August 2017-2022, and Hamid Ansari represented India on 28 tours abroad during his decade-long tenure from 2007-2017.
Mr. Dhankhar went to Cambodia (November 11-13, 2022), Qatar (November 20-21, 2022), U.K. (May 5-6, 2023) and Iran (May 2024). He was not scheduled for any tours this year, although sources said the MEA had proposed two visits abroad, in February and in June, which were turned down due to health reasons.
According to the sources, Mr. Dhankhar had complained about what he saw as several protocol violations to several Opposition leaders over the past few months. One point of contention was that the Vice-President believed he received fewer visits from foreign dignitaries than in the past.
The Vice-President's office was reportedly unhappy over his visit to Tehran, where he represented India at the funeral of President Ebrahim Raisi, who had died in a helicopter crash. The Iranian government's protocol officials were apparently overstretched as more than 40 high-level dignitaries attended the ceremonies, and the sources said Mr. Dhankhar was uneasy with the arrangements at Tehran's Parsian Azadi hotel during his day-long trip.
Mr. Dhankhar's absence from the official banquet during U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance's trip in April this year also raised several eyebrows. On April 21, when Mr. Vance landed in Delhi, Mr. Dhankhar was on board a flight to Jaipur and returned to the Capital only after Mr. Vance had left. However, officials privy to the exchanges said that the Vice-President's office had not been informed of the programme of the U.S. Vice-President in advance, nor was he included in the programme. At the time, The Hindu had reported that a meeting between the two Vice-Presidents was not scheduled, as officials said it was not mandated by protocol due to differences in the Indian and U.S. government structure.
Sources in the Vice-President's office said that despite the issues and his own health problems, Mr. Dhankhar carried out his diplomatic assignments to the full extent he was required to, pointing out where he felt there were gaps. On May 19, speaking at an event in Delhi, he referred to a protocol lapse in the reception line-up for Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, and said 'I too am a sufferer'. He pointed out that his photograph had not been kept in government offices alongside those of the President and Prime Minister, as he said they should be. 'Once I demit office, I'll ensure that my successor has a photograph,' he said, adding that when such complaints were made, they were 'not personal, but for the position held'.
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