'If someone does not understand art, what can I do?' Trinamool MP on VP mimicry row

In a political meeting at Serampore, Bengal, Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee defended his recent act of mimicry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. If someone does not understand art, what can I do? If someone does not understand humour, if someone does not have a cultured mind, if someone identifies himself as the target, I am helpless," he said, without naming Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who has taken strong note of his act of mimicry. Jagdeep Dhankhar, who had condemned the mimicry as "shameful," Banerjee questioned why someone would perceive the act as a personal affront.

Banerjee further challenged Dhankhar's claims of being insulted as a farmer's son, daring him to disclose the extent of his engagement with farming and the assistance provided to struggling farmers. The Trinamool MP also criticized the Vice-President for allegedly not supporting Olympic bronze medallist Sakshi Mallik in her protest against BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

Accusing the Vice-President of trying to flatter the Prime Minister, Mr Banerjee said, "You choke the voices of the Opposition. And then you say Narendra Modi is the 'Mahapurush' of this century. It is clear how much you flatter him." The controversy arose during an Opposition MPs' protest against suspensions, with 146 members facing suspension for 'unruly conduct' related to demands for a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding a breach of Parliament security.