VP Dhankhar Hails PM Modi as Visionary Leader, Compares Him to Kautilya
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday delivered high praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing him as a “great visionary leader” and drawing a notable comparison between Modi and ancient strategist Kautilya, also known as Chanakya, the author of the Arthashastra. Speaking at a public gathering in the national capital, Dhankhar lauded Modi’s leadership style, calling it a living embodiment of Kautilya’s philosophies on governance and statecraft.
“Our Prime Minister has exemplified Kautilya’s philosophy in action,” the Vice-President stated.
“Kautilya’s thought process is a treatise in governance, virtually encyclopedic for every facet of governance—statecraft, security, the role of the king, and of those elected.”
India’s Commitment to Peace and Strategic Response
Reinforcing India’s global identity as a peace-loving nation, Dhankhar emphasized that Bharat has long upheld the ideals of “global peace, fraternity, and welfare.” However, his remarks also acknowledged India’s recent assertive military response to cross-border terrorism, particularly targeting terror camps in Kashmir’s Pahalgam.
The Vice-President’s comments followed a statement from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who said the Indian Armed Forces had acted with “the spirit of Lord Hanuman,” striking only those who directly caused harm to India.
Praise for Modi’s Leadership and Legacy
Expanding his praise, Dhankhar described Modi’s leadership as transformative, noting that India had seen significant changes under his stewardship.
“Our Prime Minister is a great visionary. He believes in large-scale and massive transformation. After a decade of governance, the results are the writing on the wall.”
He attributed Modi’s enduring appeal to his focus on effective governance and long-term national development.
Democracy Rooted in Civilisational Values
Dhankhar also reflected on India’s ancient democratic ethos, asserting that democratic values were embedded in the country’s civilisational roots, predating the modern Constitution and independence.
“Democracy is nurtured best when expression and dialogue complement each other. This distinguishes democracy from any other form of governance.”
Quoting Vedic traditions, he said the culture of debate and open expression—referred to as Anant Vaad—has been an integral part of Indian heritage.
“The complementary mechanism of expression and dialogue—Abhivyakti and Vaad Vivaad—has been known in Vedic culture as Anant Vaad,” he noted.
Dhankhar also underscored the rarity of a Prime Minister serving a third consecutive term after a gap of 60 years, framing it as a testament to India’s robust democratic institutions and informed electorate.
