His insistence on what he saw as appropriate protocol led to several disagreements with Indian diplomats during his official foreign trips. From hotel suites to the choice of aircraft, Dhankhar reportedly felt he was not accorded the dignity his office deserved, according to sources familiar with the matter.
During his visit to Tehran last year for the funeral of President Ebrahim Raisi, Dhankhar complained about the hotel room allotted to him. Dhankhar felt the Indian Embassy in Iran should have arranged a suite befitting his stature, though the mission clarified that all arrangements had been made by the host government. The diplomats were taken aback by the demand.
On the same trip, Dhankhar also expressed displeasure at travelling in an Embraer jet, insisting a larger aircraft would have been more appropriate for a Vice-President.
At times, Dhankhar conveyed that he expected protocol equivalent to that of a President during overseas visits. Sources said he had to be briefed that even the President of a smaller nation outranks the VP of India in protocol-something reiterated during a trip to Europe and again at a presidential visit in New Delhi.
Earlier this year, visibly upset over protocol at a domestic event, Dhankhar had remarked, “You must have seen photographs of the President and the Prime Minister, but not of the Vice-President. Once I demit office, I’ll ensure my successor has a photograph.”
