PM Modi expressed discomfort in this incident
A day following a video surfacing from the Parliament complex showing Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee apparently mimicking Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi expressed their dismay and discomfort regarding the incident.
“I was disheartened witnessing the way our esteemed Vice President was disrespected within the Parliament complex,” President Murmu stated on Wednesday. “Elected representatives should have the freedom to express themselves, but their expression should align with the principles of dignity and respect.
This has been the cherished tradition of Parliament, and the people of India expect its upholding,” the statement read. “Thank you, Rashtrapati Ji, for your kind words and the timely reminder that basic courtesies should always prevail,” the Vice-President responded, affirming his commitment to upholding Constitutional principles despite any insults.
Meanwhile, PM Modi also expressed deep distress over the “shameful theatrics” displayed by certain MPs. “I received a call from Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji. He expressed deep distress over the disgraceful conduct of some Honorable MPs within the sacred Parliament premises yesterday,” reported the Vice President’s Secretariat.
“He conveyed to me that despite enduring such insults for twenty years, the fact that it happened to a Constitutional authority like the Vice President, and that too within Parliament, was regrettable,” Dhankhar posted on X. However, he asserted that these actions wouldn’t deter him from fulfilling his duties.
“I told him – Mr. Prime Minister, the actions of a few won’t stop me from fulfilling my duty and upholding the values enshrined in our Constitution. I am dedicated to these principles wholeheartedly. None of these insults will change my course,” he declared.
In a video clip, Banerjee, alongside other Opposition leaders, appeared to mimic the Rajya Sabha Chairperson, stating: “My spine is so straight, I’m so tall,” while Gandhi seemed to record the TMC MP. Addressing Rahul Gandhi, Dhankhar criticized, “The Chairperson’s office in Rajya Sabha and the Speaker’s office are distinct.
Political parties might have disagreements, but imagine a senior leader of your party filming a member of another party… Mimicking the Chairman, mimicking the Speaker. How ludicrous, how disgraceful, how unacceptable.” Meanwhile, the Congress party labeled it “a desperate attempt” to divert attention from the suspensions of Opposition MPs.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh remarked on Wednesday, “There’s a desperate attempt to shift focus from the unprecedented suspension of 142 MPs by raising the issue of ‘mimicry.'” He added, posting a video of PM Modi mimicking Rahul Gandhi in the Lok Sabha previously.
Dhankhar’s comments emerged amidst Opposition protests demanding a discussion on the December 13 Parliament security breach. The uproar surrounding the incident intensified as it became entangled in the broader context of ongoing Opposition protests. The demand for a discussion on the Parliament security breach that occurred on December 13 further fueled the discontent among the Opposition members.
The incident involving Banerjee’s mimicry within the Parliament complex reverberated across party lines, leading to a polarized debate on the limits of political expression and decorum within the revered institution of Parliament. Critics condemned the actions as an affront to parliamentary traditions, emphasizing the need for decorum and respect within the esteemed halls of democracy.
Amidst the escalating tensions and diverging viewpoints, the controversy added fuel to the already contentious atmosphere prevailing within the political landscape. The optics of the incident stirred discussions beyond mere political rivalry, calling attention to the broader question of maintaining the sanctity of democratic institutions while engaging in spirited debates and dissent.
As the fallout from this incident continued to unfold, it underscored the challenges of maintaining a delicate balance between freedom of expression and upholding the sanctity and dignity of parliamentary proceedings. The repercussions and ramifications of such actions within the hallowed halls of the Parliament complex remained a subject of intense scrutiny and debate among lawmakers, citizens, and political observers alike.
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