Rahul Gandhi’s Video Sparks Controversy: TMC MP’s Mimicry Draws Ire in Parliament
New Delhi: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar criticized Rahul Gandhi for sharing a video featuring Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee engaging in mimicry, mimicking the Vice President during a protest on the Parliament premises. The incident unfolded as the Rajya Sabha reconvened at noon, prompting Dhankhar to emphasize the significant difference between the roles of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Speaker.
Expressing his dismay, Dhankhar stated, “Political parties will have their cross currents, they will have exchanges, but imagine a senior leader of your party, video graphing another member of another party. Mimicry of the Chairman, mimicry of Speaker. How ridiculous, how shameful, how unacceptable.” Subsequently, the House was adjourned until 2 pm.
In the video, Kalyan Banerjee, one of the 141 opposition MPs suspended from Parliament, was seen vividly speaking and gesturing while mimicking the Vice President on the steps outside the “Makar Dwar” of the new Parliament building. He was heard saying, “My spine is so straight, I’m so tall,” playfully portraying the House proceedings in an impromptu skit.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also criticized the act, implying that it reflected the reasons behind the suspension of opposition MPs. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla remarked, “Mocking Parliament, constitutional positions has become their DNA – remember how they said ‘Modi ki kabr khudegi’ & abused his OBC background.” Poonawalla highlighted a pattern from abusing the Prime Minister post to derogatory remarks about the President and now insulting the Vice President, who comes from the OBC community in Rajasthan.
BJP MP from Odisha, Suresh Pujari, further alleged that mimicry continued inside Parliament and was being videographed against the rules. He expressed concern about these acts crossing acceptable limits, leading to disruptions in the House’s ability to address several important issues.
