Rajnath Singh slams Rahul Gandhi, TMC MP over Jagdeep Dhankar mimicry, calls it 'shameful'

Condemning their actions, he called the act a blot on India's democratic traditions.

In a strongly worded post on X, Singh said respect for those holding constitutional positions is the life force of democracy.

"The shameful manner in which the Vice President of India and Honorable Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar ji has been insulted by Trinamool Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee and Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi is a black stain on Indian democratic traditions," Singh wrote.

"The tradition of respecting persons holding the highest constitutional positions is the life force of democracy. But the low level at which parliamentary dignity is being devalued by turning partisan opposition into animosity is a matter of concern for the entire political class. I strongly condemn such indecent behavior towards persons holding constitutional posts," he wrote.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who shot the video of Trinamool Congress parliamentarian Kalyan Banerjee mimicking Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar, has also reacted to the row.

After declining to comment on the matter in the morning, Rahul in the afternoon said, "MPs were sitting there, I shot their video. My video is on my phone. Media is showing it. Modi ji is speaking on it. Nobody has said anything... 150 of our MPs were thrown out of Parliament but there is no discussion on that in the media.

"There is no discussion on Adani or Rafale or unemployment. Our MPs were disheartened and they were sitting outside. Telecast news to some extent as well."

A video, which went viral on social media, shows Banerjee, one of more than 100 suspended MPs in the winter session, was doing a mimicry of Dhankhar.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, a top leader of the country's primary opposition force, was seen video recording the act.

Dhankhar, who is the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, on Wednesday, posted on X to say he was contacted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who "expressed great pain".

The Vice President posted on X, "Received a telephone call from the Prime Minister, Shri @narendramodi Ji. He expressed great pain over the abject theatrics of some Honourable MPs and that too in the sacred Parliament complex yesterday. He told me that he has been at the receiving end of such insults for twenty years and counting but the fact that it could happen to a Constitutional office like the Vice President of India and that too in the Parliament was unfortunate.

"I told him- Mr. Prime Minister, the antics of a few won’t prevent me from performing my duty and upholding the principles enshrined in our Constitution. I am committed to those values from the bottom of my heart. None of the insults will make me change my path."

Kalyan Banerjee on Wednesday claimed he didn't intend to hurt Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar through his mimicry that he did inside Parliament complex a day ago.