TMC's Kalyan Banerjee mimics Vice President Dhankar again, this time in Bengal; says 'will do it a thousand times'
TMC's Kalyan Banerjee mimics Vice President Dhankar again, this time in Bengal; says 'will do it a thousand times'
Trinamool Congress’ suspended MP Kalyan Banerjee has once again mimicked Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and claimed he would continue to mimic Dhankhar, terming it as an “art form”.
Speaking at an event in West Bengal’s Serampore, Banerjee said he would do it a thousand times and that he had a fundamental right to do so.
“I will keep doing the mimicry. It is an art form. If needed, I will do it a thousand times. I have all the fundamental rights to express my views. You can put me in jail. I will not step back,” a report by India Today quoted Banerjee as saying.
He also criticised Dhankhar for getting upset over a “trivial issue”.
A massive political row erupted a week ago after Banerjee was seen mimicking Dhankar as Opposition MPs, who were protesting outside Parliament, at Makar Dwar, against mass suspension from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, burst into laughter. Meanwhile, Congress leader was seen filing on phone the TMC MP mimicking the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
Upset over the incident, Dhankhar issued a statement expressed his pain and said he could not tolerate any insult to Parliament and the position of the Vice President of India.
He also said his post as the Vice President of India was insulted by the members of the Opposition. He also claimed it was an insult to his background as a Jat, his caste, and as someone who comes from a family of farmers.
President Droupadi Murmu, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed dismay over the incident.
Kalyan Banerjee’s controversies
Facing strong criticism, Banerjee, former lawyer-turned-politician, last week clarified that he did not intend to harm anyone with his actions in the Parliament complex.
Dur to a track record of making derogatory remarks earlier against former West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Dhankhar during his tenure as the governor of West Bengal, Banerjee has also earned the moniker “loose cannon” from political opponents.
A loyal supporter of West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Kalyan Banerjee became a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the state in 2001. Serving as a three-time MP from the Serampore Lok Sabha seat, he first gained notoriety in 2009 for criticising then Buddhadeb Bhattacharya’s time spent at the city’s cultural hub, Nandan.
Back in 2012, when the TMC withdrew of support from the Congress-led UPA government, Banerjee engaged in a verbal spat with the then-Union minister Anand Sharma over the issue of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI).
At the time of demonetisation, Banerjee, during protests against outside the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) office in Kolkata, made controversial remarks against PM Modi, leading to widespread condemnation.
Just months away from 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Banerjee stirred controversy by invoking Goddess Sita and Lord Ram while criticising the BJP over the Hathras incident in Uttar Pradesh. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the BJP vehemently criticised Banerjee, demanding his immediate arrest for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
When Dhankar was Governor of West Bengal, the state government frequently clashed with him. On numerous occasions, Banerjee, along with other party leaders, led protests against the Raj Bhavan. He even urged TMC workers to file police complaints against Dhankhar, suggesting that legal action be initiated once he ceases to be the Governor of the state.
With inputs from agencies
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