'No Discussion On Rafale, MPs Being Thrown Out, But...': Rahul Gandhi Reacts To Mimicry Row

Rahul Gandhi said there was no debate when 150 Opposition members were suspended from the Parliament and questioned the media for discussing only the mimicry episode.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Winter session of Parliament.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Amid the raging controversy around the mimicry of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said there was no debate when 150 Opposition members were suspended from the Parliament and questioned the media for discussing only the mimicry episode.

"Who disrespected and how? MPs were sitting there (in the Parliament premises), I shot their video. Our 150 MPs were thrown out, but there is no discussion in the media on that; no discussion on Adani, Rafael and unemployment," Rahul Gandhi said while speaking to the media.

VIDEO | "Who disrespected and how? MPs were sitting there (in the Parliament premises), I shot their video. Our 150 MPs were thrown out, but there is no discussion in the media on that; no discussion on Adani, Rafael and unemployment," says Congress leader @RahulGandhi in… pic.twitter.com/u72anELdBP

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 20, 2023

Earlier on Tuesday, amid protests against the suspension of Opposition MPs for disrupting the House proceedings, TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee tried to mock Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar by mimicking his mannerisms. Rahul Gandhi was also seen shooting the act on his mobile phone.

Expressing anguish over the incident, Dhankhar said he will not tolerate any kind of disrespect towards the Parliament or the post of Vice President, news agency PTI reported.

“I am not bothered if anyone insults Jagdeep Dhankhar but I cannot bear that I could not protect the honour of my post. It is my duty to protect the honour of the House,” PTI quoted Dhankhar as saying.

Not Meant To Be Disrespectful: Mamata Banerjee

Meanwhile, speaking on the episode, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the mimicry was not intended to hurt anyone and no one would have known about it if Rahul Gandhi would not have recorded it.

"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,” PTI quoted the TMC supremo as saying.

#WATCH | On TMC MP mimicry row, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, "...You wouldn't have come to know if Rahul ji had not recorded a video..." pic.twitter.com/t1gNmnI69p

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

Her remarks came hours after BJP leader Locket Chatterjee demanded action against Kalyan Banerjee and sought a statement from the Bengal CM.