NDA MPs Unite In Symbolic ‘Stand-Up’ To Support Vice President Amid Mimicry Controversy

In the midst of the controversy surrounding a Trinamool MP’s mimicry of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Rajya Sabha MPs affiliated with the BJP and its allies staged a distinctive protest today, showcasing solidarity with the Vice-President. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi conveyed that NDA members would stand in the House for an hour to express support for Mr. Dhankhar, who holds the positions of Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman.

Mr. Joshi strongly condemned the act, stating that it crossed all limits and amounted to repeated insults toward individuals occupying constitutional posts. He highlighted the consistent derogation of the Prime Minister over the past two decades due to his humble background and OBC community affiliation. The President, being a tribal woman, faced similar disrespect. Emphasizing the insult to the Vice-President and the Constitution, Mr. Joshi declared the party’s intolerance towards such behavior.

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In a symbolic gesture of protest and support for the Vice-President, Mr. Joshi announced that NDA members would stand and actively participate in the question and answer session. The trigger for this protest was a video featuring Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicking the Vice-President on Parliament premises. Mr. Banerjee, suspended along with 140 other Opposition MPs, engaged in the act during a protest near the new Parliament building, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi capturing the incident on film.

Reacting to the video, Vice-President Dhankhar expressed deep dismay in the Rajya Sabha, characterizing it as a personal attack. He pointed out the seriousness of the insult to the post of Rajya Sabha chairman and criticized the Congress party for using its official Instagram handle to post and later delete the video. Mr. Dhankhar emphasized that the act was not just an insult to his farmer background and community but a disrespect to the constitutional position he holds.

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In response, the BJP seized upon the mimicry video to counter criticism of the unprecedented suspension of Opposition MPs. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Piyush Goyal, along with the official BJP handle, labeled Mr. Banerjee’s actions as a “contemptible act.” They highlighted the incident as an illustration of the recklessness and violation exhibited by opposition MPs in the House. Additionally, Mr. Goyal criticized the Congress for supporting those who ridicule constitutional positions, pointing to Rahul Gandhi’s enthusiastic recording of the act.