You have to neutralise anti-Bharat narratives: Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar to NLU Jodhpur students

Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar recently urged law students of National Law University, Jodhpur to work on neutralising 'anti-Bharat' narratives so as to stop any impediments to the progress of the nation..The former Senior Advocate asked the students to not be mute spectators to those speaking against the country while abroad."You have to neutralise anti-Bharat narratives. We cannot allow people to shame us for no reason. If you do not speak out, if the most premium intellectual category does not speak out, then the progress of the nation will be impeded, and that should never happen. I am sure that will not happen."Possibly referring to Opposition leaders, he added,"They go abroad, and run down our institutions, they tarnish and demean our institutions. You cannot be silent spectators, if you think the person is right, support. If you think the person is wrong, you must voice your concern. Your silence will resonate in your ears for years to come. You will be asking a question to yourself why I was in silence mode at that point of time.".In his speech on September 27, delivered during an interactive session at NLU Jodhpur, the Vice-President stressed that no one could be above the law in a society governed by democratic governance and the rule of the law.In this context, he objected to persons protesting against notices received by Central law enforcement agencies."You are accountable to law. The long arm of law will reach the neck of anyone, there will knock at the door. But we have a sinister mechanism, a style most illegal, unacceptable. You get a notice from an agency, you go to street. Where where are we heading? If you get a notice from an agency, we have a robust judicial system, why do not we go there? And our robust judicial system has delivered.".He added that India's independent judiciary is envied by developed nations, and so one must avoid agitations by pretending one is above the law. In this context, he flagged the disruptions in parliament."You surely do not expect our parliamentarians to engage in disturbance or disruption...I appeal to all of you, please have it, a method of working for you. Always give respect to the other point of view. You may not agree, you may thoroughly disagree, you may discard it, but not to be open to an idea is not a good thing. That is not rational working, that militates against basic sense of intellect and is antithetical to democratic values, which we all cherish.".The Vice-President of India also welcomed the recent passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament."When this great Bill, historic bill, epochal bill, a game changer bill for which we have waited for years, and it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi who scored the goal. When that was being debated in Rajya Sabha on 21st of September, 17 women parliamentarians were on the chair which I occupy [Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha]."He asked students to read the new criminal law bills and send the recommendations to the committee looking into its enactment..[Watch the Vice-Presidents speech]