TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee expressed gratitude to Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar for extending birthday wishes, conveying that he felt deeply moved by this thoughtful gesture. This acknowledgment comes several weeks after a controversy arose surrounding Banerjee's mimicry of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar during protests against the mass suspension of Opposition MPs from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
In his message of thanks, Banerjee shared that Dhankar personally called him and engaged in a conversation with his wife, offering blessings to the entire family. Banerjee further disclosed that the Rajya Sabha Chairman extended an invitation for him and his wife to dine at his residence in Delhi alongside his family. The TMC MP expressed being "overwhelmed" by this warm and inclusive gesture from the distinguished Chairman.
It is noteworthy that Banerjee had previously mimicked Dhankar during protests outside Parliament, triggering laughter among fellow MPs, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who captured the moment on film. Defending his actions, Banerjee asserted that mimicry was a form of art, citing a past instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaging in mimicry in the Lok Sabha.
Despite facing criticism for his initial mimicry, Banerjee continued with this form of expression, stating that he considered it an "art form" and asserting his fundamental right to engage in such acts. At an event in Shrirampur, West Bengal, he declared his intention to continue mimicking the Vice President, pledging to do so a thousand times if necessary.
On a parallel note, Jagdeep Dhankar, at an event in Delhi, reflected on his position as a "sufferer" enduring "all insults," potentially alluding to the various incidents involving mimicry directed at him. The exchange between Banerjee and Dhankar continues to be a notable chapter in the recent political discourse, marked by a blend of appreciation and controversy.
