Vice President Dhankhar Stands Firm Amidst Mimicry Controversy: Upholding Constitutional Values and Dignity

Expressing dismay over the act of mimicry by a TMC MP, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized on Wednesday that a few individuals cannot deter him from fulfilling his duty and upholding the principles of the Indian Constitution.

Controversy arose when Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee performed mimicry of Jagdeep Dhankhar outside Parliament, a moment captured by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. In a recent tweet, Dhankhar disclosed a conversation with Prime Minister Modi regarding the incident.

"I received a telephone call from the Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi Ji. He expressed great distress over the disrespectful actions of some Honourable MPs within the sacred Parliament complex yesterday," wrote the Vice President in his post on Wednesday. He highlighted that such insults, though endured for two decades, were unfortunate when directed at a Constitutional office like the Vice President.

Leaders and MPs from the ruling party condemned the mimicry by the TMC leader. In response, VP Dhankhar affirmed that these insults would not alter his commitment to upholding constitutional values.

Addressing the mimicry incident in the Rajya Sabha, Dhankar stated, “I don't care about how much you insult Jagdeep Dhankhar. But I can't tolerate (insult of) Vice President of India, farmers community, my community." He characterized the mimicry as a disrespectful act towards the post of Vice President, emphasizing the need to protect the dignity of the house.

During the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Vice President Dhankhar to convey his concerns about the misconduct by MPs in the parliament complex. Birla expressed shock at the ignoble act, condemning the decision to amplify it through video recording.

Banerjee's mimicry occurred during the Opposition's protest on the Parliament stairs on Tuesday, drawing strong condemnation from the ruling BJP. Leaders of the Jat Community also staged protests in Delhi, supporting Vice President Dhankhar and demanding an apology from TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee for disrespecting his position.