Speaking at a programme in his Lok Sabha constituency Serampore in Hooghly district on Sunday, Banerjee insisted that he would repeat the act a thousand times since it is his fundamental right. “Mimicky is an art form. It is my fundamental right to express my views. The right to dissent and protest is also a fundamental right. You can put me in jail for this but I will not step back,” said Banerjee, a senior lawyer, who was suspended from the Lok Sabha along with several others from two Houses of Parliament.
Without naming Dhankhar, he said, “Children are used to complaining like this. But he should know that he ignited the fire. Now if that fire burns down Lanka, that is not our fault .”
He further said, “I did the mimicry but later I came to know that it became a big deal. But the first act of mimicry I saw in the Lok Sabha was by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When he did it, we laughed it off. We took the matter sportingly. They are crying hoarse over mimicry.”
Banerjee mimicked Rajya Sabha chairman Dhankhar during the Opposition’s protest on the stairs of Parliament on December 19 against the suspension of MPs, drawing strong condemnation from the ruling BJP. Accusing Dhankhar of “throttling the Opposition to please the ruling dispensation at the Centre”, the TMC MP said, “How much will you bend? How much do you want to please Narendra Modi and the BJP?”
Dhankhar termed the act as “shameful, ridiculous and unacceptable”.
Accusing Dhankhar of being engrossed with himself while adorning a Constitutional position, Banerjee, rapidly shaking his hands and body, said that he should look at the country instead. He later clarified that he didn’t intend to hurt Dhankhar.
On Monday, Banerjee went to a church in his constituency on the occasion of Christmas and distributed sweets among children.
Reacting to Banerjee’s remarks, state BJP chief Sukanta Majumder said, “Mimicry is an art but you have to understand where you are doing this… the Parliament staircase is not a place for mimicry. Also, the Vice-President cannot be the subject of your mimicry. If you do that repeatedly, questions will be raised on your mental stability.”— With PTI inputs
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First published on: 25-12-2023 at 12:36 IST
