On Tuesday, Kalyan Banerjee, the Trinamool MP representing Serampore, impersonated Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar. Laughter erupted among opposition MPs protesting outside Parliament against the mass suspension from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
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Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman express intolerence
On Wednesday, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expressed his intolerance for insults to his position after Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicked him outside the parliament on Tuesday.
Rahul Gandhi, a Congress leader, filmed the act. Earlier in the day, Dhankar posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, detailing his telephonic discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who characterized the incident as a “personal attack.”
Shehzad Poonawalla also criticized Kalyan Banerjee for making fun of the Vice President within the Parliament premises, and he also disapproved of Rahul Gandhi for filing the incident.
Poonawalla mentioned that making fun of Parliament and important roles in the government has become a common behavior for them. He recalled instances like when they said disrespectful things about the Prime Minister and insulted his OBC background. From disrespecting the PM position to referring to the President as “Rashtrapatni,” now they are insulting someone from the OBC community in Rajasthan who became the Vice President of India.
Prime Minister’s take on the incident
PM Modi was deeply upset about the dramatic actions of certain MPs within the sacred Parliament complex, as expressed by Dhankar. He mentioned that he’s faced such insults for over twenty years. However, he found it unfortunate that it occurred to a Constitutional office like the Vice President of India, especially within the Parliament.
The Vice President affirmed to the Prime Minister that he remains steadfast in his commitment to uphold constitutional principles, despite the disruptive actions of a few. He expressed dedication to these values, emphasizing that insults will not alter his course.
Videos circulating on Tuesday depicted Rahul Gandhi recording Serampore MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicking Dhankar, provoking laughter among opposition MPs protesting the mass suspension from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha outside Parliament.
On Tuesday, Dhankar criticized Rahul Gandhi, albeit without explicitly mentioning his name, for recording a video imitating Banerjee, the RS Chair, outside Parliament.
He also displayed disapproval, stating, “One prominent leader from your party was capturing a video of a fellow member’s inappropriate behavior. There should be boundaries. It’s absurd and disgraceful to witness a senior member of one party recording another member mimicking the chair.” After the House resumed at noon following an adjournment, Dhankar made these remarks.
Dhankar expressed concern about the incident, highlighting the distinction between the offices of the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, and the Speaker. He found it absurd and shameful that a senior leader would videotape a member of another party, mimicking both the Chairman and the Speaker. In response to the insult to Jagdeep Dhankar, female BJP MPs plan to stage a protest at the Gandhi statue at 2 pm on Wednesday.
Subsequently, President Droupadi Murmu expressed her disappointment in a post, stating that she was disheartened by the way our esteemed Vice President was subjected to humiliation within the Parliament complex.
MP Kalyan Banerjee in his defence
President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar when he performed an impression outside Parliament, sparking a significant controversy. Describing mimicry as a form of art, Banerjee justified his actions by pointing to a previous instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaging in mimicry in the Lok Sabha.
Expressing his deep respect for Dhankhar, Banerjee highlighted their shared professional background, acknowledging Dhankhar as his senior and former governor. He emphasized that mimicry is merely a form of artistic expression. Furthermore, Banerjee drew attention to a previous occasion when Prime Minister Modi himself had engaged in mimicry within the Lok Sabha, asserting that such instances were not taken seriously at the time.
In essence, Banerjee defended his actions by presenting mimicry as a harmless form of artistic expression, pointing to precedents set by other political figures, including the Prime Minister, in similar contexts.
Justifying his actions, Banerjee explained, “I did not specify whether it was the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha; it was a simulated Parliament session. If he has taken offense, I am genuinely sorry. Does he exhibit similar behavior in the Rajya Sabha? That is my query. I never intended to cause harm to anyone.”
