Vice President shocked by Chidambaram’s remarks that criminal laws are being drafted by part-time employees

Photo: Hon’ble Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today awarded medals of excellence to meritorious students of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. (X/@VPIndia)

Deputy Speaker Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday expressed shock and concern over former Finance Minister P Chidambaram describing the three new criminal justice laws as “drafted by part-timers” and thus calling members of Parliament “part-timers”.

The Vice President was addressing the 12th convocation of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram.

Without naming Mr Chidambaram, he said every member of Parliament had an opportunity to contribute to the work of the House. The Congress member of the Rajya Sabha, “with his vast experience as a finance minister”, had not spoken on the bills during their discussion and was now saying that the new criminal justice laws had been drafted by part-time employees.

Mr Dhankhar said that not only he but also his colleagues belonging to the legal community had not spoken on the bills. He had failed in his constitutional duty and obligation. How could he now make such comments, and it amounted to denigrating the nation and its institutions, the Vice President said.

He said, “I am shocked beyond words” and told the students and faculty of IIST, “Beware of the minds who through narrative strategy are deliberately trying to denigrate our nation, denigrate our institutions, our progress, not to see the writing on the wall, to criticize for the sake of criticizing. I do not have words strong enough to express such a narrative.”

Parliament is the final source of formulation of laws, he said, and every sector of society is represented in it. The Vice President hoped that members around the world would reconsider his derogatory and insulting remarks against members of Parliament and withdraw them.

In his convocation address, Mr Dhankhar said the institute can be proud of being Asia’s first space university and he is confident that over the decades, it will become the most prestigious space university in the world.

He said that the university was designed with a holistic vision; IIST offers an integrated educational experience spanning undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral programmes in a highly distinguished category of knowledge and learning.

“I firmly believe that education is the most effective mechanism for change. It promotes equality and combats inequalities. Its mechanism for positive change enables our youth to meet the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that are abundant in our times,” the Vice President said.

He said that alumni of every institute are a think tank and this think tank can create wonders. This needs to be exemplified and emulated by alumni of other prestigious institutions. Mr. Dhankhar said that he has been thinking for a long time that “we must have a confederation of alumni associations.”

“If there is a confederation of alumni associations of prestigious institutions like yours, like IIT, IIM, JNU and many others, believe me, it will be a global think tank and can contribute to our policy making. One has to start somewhere; no place is better than this,” he said.

Infrastructure is essential, but it is the human resources, the strength of the faculty that determines the strength of the backbone of an institution, he said. “You are fortunate to have such remarkable and competent faculties,” he added.

Mr Dhankhar said, as the Chancellor rightly said, that this is not the end of learning. Learning never stops. “As long as you live, you have to keep learning. Once you stop learning, your decline will be accelerated,” he said.

“Even to maintain a static position, you have to learn, and when you are in ascending mode, you have to learn even more. Learning is part of our life; it never stops,” the vice president said.

Mr. Dhankhar said that India has come a long way in the last decade. And in this decade, there have been global challenges and a pandemic. India has been a shining star and has been recognized globally as a go-to place for opportunities and destinations on the global platform.

“Recognition comes from bodies like the IMF, the World Bank and others. It creates a calming ecosystem for you where you can fully exploit your talent and achieve your aspirations and dreams,” he said.

He said: “You are the key players in governance. When we talk about Viksit Bharat, we are talking about your involvement in 2047. Many of us may not be there, but you will be in charge.”