TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee Clarifies Amid Jagdeep Dhankhar Mimicry Controversy. In a recent turn of events, Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee found himself at the center of a controversy following his mimicry of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. Banerjee, while addressing the incident, expressed that his intentions were not to cause harm or offend anyone despite the growing outrage from the BJP ranks.
The Viral Episode
The incident occurred during a protest by suspended Opposition members on the Parliament stairs, where Banerjee seemingly mimicked Dhankhar’s mannerisms and physical limitations. The video of this act quickly went viral, sparking criticism and heated reactions.
Banerjee’s Defense
Clarifying his stance, Banerjee stated, “I wasn’t intending to hurt anyone. I do not know why he is taking this on himself. Does he act like this in the Rajya Sabha? I’ve great respect for Dhankar-ji. Firstly, he belongs in the same profession as me and secondly, because he was formerly a governor (of West Bengal). He is our Vice President.”
Comparison with PM Modi
Banerjee didn’t miss the opportunity to point out that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had engaged in mimicking Opposition leaders in the Lok Sabha between 2014 and 2019. He argued that it was perceived as harmless humor at that time and questioned why a similar leniency wasn’t extended to him. Banerjee emphasized that mimicry is not an offense and accused the BJP of diverting attention from the key issue – the suspension of opposition MPs.
Mamata Banerjee’s Perspective
The TMC party chief, Mamata Banerjee, downplayed the issue, asserting that the mimicry was not meant to be disrespectful. She added, “We respect everyone. It was not disrespectful. It was just politically, casually… You would not even have known it if Rahul ji had not recorded it.”
In the midst of the controversy, the TMC MP and party leadership remain steadfast, maintaining that the focus should be on the suspension of opposition MPs rather than the mimicry incident.
