At an event dedicated to Jain philosopher Shrimad Rajchandraji, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar likened Mahatma Gandhi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling Gandhi the "'mahapurush" (great man) of the last century and Modi the "yugpurush" (man of the century).
In his address, Dhankhar remarked, "The mahapurush of the last century was Mahatma Gandhi. Narendra Modi is the yugpurush of this century." He praised both figures, attributing Gandhi's role in liberating India from British rule with truth and non-violence and crediting PM Modi for steering the nation toward progress.
However, his comparison sparked criticism from Congress leader Manickam Tagore, who denounced the comparison as "shameful." Tagore expressed disdain, stating, "If you compare with Mahatma, it's shameful sir. We all know there is a limit to sycophancy; now you have crossed that limit."
Bahujan Samaj Party MP Danish Ali also reacted to Dhankhar's remarks, referencing a previous incident involving BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri's objectionable comments against the BSP leader during a discussion in the Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, during the event, the Vice-President highlighted the significance of unity against forces hindering India's progress, underscoring the country's ancient civilization spanning over 5,000 years.
