A day after a video from the Parliament complex of TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee ostensibly mimicking the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar emerged, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dialed Dhankhar and expressed pain over the behaviour of some Members of Parliament (MPs).
Referring to PM Modi’s phone call, the V-P secretariat, in a social media post on X, said, “He expressed great pain over the abject theatrics of some Honourable MPs and that too in the sacred Parliament complex yesterday.”
— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) December 20, 2023
“He told me that he has been at the receiving end of such insults for twenty years and counting but the fact that it could happen to a Constitutional office like the Vice President of India and that too in the Parliament was unfortunate,” the post read.
Also Read: Suspended TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mimics Jagdeep Dhankhar; Rahul Gandhi films act
“I told him- Mr. Prime Minister, the antics of a few won’t prevent me from performing my duty and upholding the principles enshrined in our Constitution. I am committed to those values from the bottom of my heart. None of the insults will make me change my path,” Dhankhar told the PM.
On Tuesday, a major controversy erupted after video clips of suspended Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee, surrounded by other Opposition leaders, mimicking the Rajya Sabha chairman’s mannerisms were widely circulated on social media. Additionally, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen recording the mockery act on his mobile phone.
As the Rajya Sabha resumed, targeting Rahul Gandhi, Dhankhar said, “Office of Chairman, Rajya Sabha and Office of Speaker are very different. Political parties will have their cross currents, they will have exchanges, but imagine a senior leader of your party videographing another member of another party… Mimicry of the Chairman, mimicry of Speaker. How ridiculous, how shameful, how unacceptable.”
Dhankhar’s remarks came against the backdrop of protests by the Opposition, demanding a discussion on the December 13 Parliament security breach.
President Droupadi Murmu too reacted on the treatment of the Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar in the Parliament complex. In a post on X, she stated, “I was dismayed to see the manner in which our respected Vice President was humiliated in the Parliament complex. Elected representatives must be free to express themselves, but their expression should be within the norms of dignity and courtesy. That has been the Parliamentary tradition we are proud of, and the People of India expect them to uphold it.”
I was dismayed to see the manner in which our respected Vice President was humiliated in the Parliament complex. Elected representatives must be free to express themselves, but their expression should be within the norms of dignity and courtesy. That has been the Parliamentary…
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) December 20, 2023
Later, Gandhi refused to comment when he was asked to reply on PM Modi dialling V-P Dhankhar over his mimicry. “I am not commenting,” Gandhi was heard saying, news agency ANI reported.
#WATCH | #WATCH | “I am not commenting,” says Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on being asked about PM Modi speaking to VP Dhankhar on TMC MP mimicry row pic.twitter.com/0obPZCODOQ
— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also met Dhankhar today and termed the act by the Opposition MPs as “demeaning”.
“Conveyed my deep concerns and anguish @VPIndia and Hon’ble Chairman, Rajyasabha about serious misdemeanor by Hon’ble MPs in Parliament complex demeaning and denigrating the constitutional office of Vice President,” said Om Birla.