Fewer Foreign Trips, Protocol Concerns: Dhankhar Highlights Role Disparity Compared to Predecessors

Quick summary

• Former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar completed only four foreign trips during his 35-month tenure, citing fewer diplomatic responsibilities compared to predecessors.
• Predecessors Venkaiah Naidu (13 tours) and Hamid Ansari (28 tours) had considerably higher engagement on foreign visits.
• Dhankhar’s travel destinations included Cambodia, Qatar, the UK, and Iran between August 2022 and May 2024; additional proposed trips were reportedly canceled due to health reasons.
• He raised concerns about protocol issues with the MEA involving reduced visits from foreign dignitaries and perceived lapses in international arrangements during official assignments like his Tehran trip.
• Domestic complaints included the exclusion of his photograph in government offices alongside other leaders and limited scheduling for meetings with key officials such as U.S. Vice-President J.D.Vance during state visits.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The discrepancies noted by Mr. Dhankhar highlight systemic challenges related to the position’s evolving role in India’s diplomatic landscape, especially under different administrations or leadership styles within government bodies like the MEA. while former Vice-Presidents engaged extensively abroad as part of their tenures, mr. Dhankhar’s limited assignment could signal internal rethinking of vice-presidential responsibilities or shifting priorities for India’s diplomacy strategies-implications worthy of policy reflection moving forward.

His criticism regarding protocol management raises valid concerns about administrative efficiency that touches not just personal grievances but broader considerations on how public positions are honored institutionally within India’s governance system.

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