New Delhi: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar made strong remarks on Friday, accusing "a person holding a constitutional position" of attempting to damage India's economy. His comments were interpreted as a direct reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, following his remarks on the recent Hindenburg Research report targeting India's markets regulator, SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch.
Speaking to students at the National Law University (NLU), Dhankhar expressed deep concern over what he described as a "narrative aimed at destroying our economy." He noted that the individual in question had urged the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter, despite widespread rejection of the report by SEBI, the Adani Group, and several top economists.
"I got extremely worried when a person holding a constitutional position, just last week, declared in a well-publicised media campaign, beseeching the Supreme Court to suo-motu invoke jurisdiction to give wings to a narrative aimed at destroying our economy," Dhankhar said.
Although he did not mention Rahul Gandhi by name, his comments were seen as a direct response to the Congress leader's call for the Supreme Court's involvement following the US short-seller's report. Dhankhar urged law students to resist efforts that place partisan interests above national progress, stating that such actions threaten India's rise on the global stage.
The Vice President also questioned the judiciary's use of "suo-motu cognisance" and urged students to assess whether other courts worldwide use such powers. He emphasized that the jurisdiction of courts is determined by the Indian Constitution.
The Hindenburg report, which had accused SEBI of regulatory failures, was dismissed as "baseless" by SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch and the Adani Group, with Buch noting that the report surfaced after SEBI had already taken action in July.
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Davangere (Karnataka), Sep 11: Senior Congress MLA Shamanuru Shivashankarappa on Wednesday said he will also be in the contest for the Chief Minister post if the legislators support him, in the event of leadership change in Karnataka.
The 93-year-old, however, said the incumbent CM Siddaramaiah is running a good administration and added: "let him continue until he has the blessings of the high command."
"There is no question of senior or junior in politics. Whomever majority of the elected legislators support, high command says yes to them, that's the practice. If the situation comes, I will also contest, I won't leave," Shivashankarappa told reporters.
His son, S S Mallikarjun, is a Minister in the Siddaramaiah Cabinet, while daughter-in-law Prabha Mallikarjun is Davangere MP.
"I said, I will, the legislators should first accept and support me," he said when asked if he is in the race being the senior-most MLA.
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Shivashankarappa joined the list of party leaders weighing in for the Chief Minister's post in the event of leadership change in Karnataka, while maintaining that the incumbent will continue in the position.
As Siddaramaiah's petition challenging the Governor's sanction for his prosecution in a site allotment case is being heard in the High Court, some Congress leaders seem to be preparing for a race to become CM, in case of leadership change.
Making it clear that the Chief Minister post in the state is not vacant for anyone to weigh in to occupy it now, Siddaramaiah on Wednesday asserted that there are no doubts in this regard and he will continue in the position.