Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep concern over the disrespectful behavior exhibited by some Members of Parliament (MPs) in the sacred Parliament complex. This comes in the aftermath of a video surfacing from the Parliament complex showing Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee allegedly mimicking the Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar.
In a phone call to Dhankhar, PM Modi conveyed his distress over the incident, stating that such theatrics within the Parliament complex were regrettable. The Vice President’s secretariat shared details of the conversation in a social media post, quoting Dhankhar’s response asserting his commitment to upholding constitutional principles despite facing insults.
The controversy unfolded on Tuesday when video clips of Kalyan Banerjee mimicking the Rajya Sabha Chairman’s mannerisms went viral. The incident also captured Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recording the act on his mobile phone. As the Rajya Sabha reconvened, Dhankhar condemned the behavior, especially highlighting the inappropriate recording of the incident by a senior leader of one party.
Amidst ongoing protests by the Opposition, demanding a discussion on the December 13 Parliament security breach, President Droupadi Murmu expressed dismay over the humiliation of the Vice President in the Parliament complex. She emphasized the importance of elected representatives adhering to the norms of dignity and courtesy.
Meanwhile, the Congress criticized the government over the security breach issue and questioned the lack of action against BJP MP Pratap Simha, who is alleged to have facilitated the entry of intruders into the Lok Sabha during the incident. The party pointed out the contrast between the suspension of opposition MPs and the absence of questioning of Simha even a week after the security breach.
The Congress general secretary, Jairam Ramesh, raised concerns about the suspension of 141 opposition MPs while demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the security breach. The government defended the suspensions, accusing the MPs of insulting the Lok Sabha Speaker, Rajya Sabha Chairman, and the institution of Parliament.
As the nation awaits further developments, the Parliament continues to be at the center of political turmoil, with questions raised about decorum, security, and the role of elected representatives in upholding democratic values.
