Mimicry row: Ruling party MPs stand in RS in solidarity with Dhankhar

20 Dec 2023 Evaluate

Amid the controversy over a Trinamool MP copying Vice President and RS Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, all Rajya Sabha (RS) MPs from the NDA, including the BJP, staged a unique protest to show solidarity with the Vice President. 

109 members of NDA stood for an hour in the House to express support to Dhankhar, Vice-President. Among those seen standing were Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Transport minister Nitin Gadkari and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi. A video of Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee imitating the Vice President in the Parliament complex has created a political storm. Kalyan Banerjee is among the 141 opposition MPs who were suspended last week for demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on the Parliament security breach. The BJP also attacked the opposition over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi making a video of the performance by Banerjee.

As soon as the House resumed at noon, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said, ‘we strongly condemn this. There are crossing all limits. They are repeatedly insulting people on constitutional posts. They have been insulting the Prime Minister for 20 years because he comes from a humble background and the OBC community. They insulted the President because she is a tribal woman. You are a farmer's son. For the first time, someone from the Jat community became Vice-President. They have insulted this post. We are making it clear, we will not tolerate the insult of the Vice-President and the Constitution’. ‘So, in your honour and to protest against them, we will stand and participate in the question and answer session,’ he added. 

After the ruling party members stood for about 10 minutes during Question Hour, the RS Chairman requested them to resume their seats, saying he was touched by the gesture.



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