Rajya Sabha chairman should be impartial: Cong hits back at Dhankhar

NEW DELHI: The Congress has slammed Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar over his remarks that people should leave their ''political spectacle'' behind while embarking on a foreign visit, saying the Rajya Sabha chairman should be impartial and not always praise the government.

Speaking at a World Homeopathy Day function here, Dhankhar on Monday said as India lays the foundation for the centenary of its independence in 2047, every attempt that seeks to attack the country's dignity should be blunted.

He said people should leave their ''political spectacle'' behind while embarking on a foreign visit, in an apparent reference to a row over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's remarks made during a recent visit to the United Kingdom.

Responding to Dhankhar's tweet saying people should leave their ''political spectacle'' behind while going on a foreign tour, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, in a tweet in Hindi, said: ''First you give this advice to those who started this practice in 2015. Then give a sermon (to others).'' ''Second thing, Mr Chairman should be impartial, and should not always praise the government,'' Ramesh said.

In his remarks on Monday, Dhankhar said, ''Have you ever noticed a foreign dignitary or foreign national on a visit to this great democracy decrying or criticising his nation? The answer is an obvious no. Why cannot we take pride in our scientists, health warriors and compliment our innovation?'' ''Whenever we travel out of the country, we should leave our political spectacle behind. This will be beneficial for the country as well as the individual,'' he added.