“Whether PM or VP, everyone should take it with open heart”: TMC’s Majeed Memon on mimicry row

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 21 (ANI): Amid the showdown between the Treasury and the suspended members of the Opposition over the mocking impression of Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar by TMC MP Derek O’Brien, fellow party leader and senior advocate Majeed Memon on Thursday said regardless whether it is the Prime Minister or the Vice President, everyone should accept an act of humour, mimicry or caricature with an ‘open heart’.

Speaking to ANI on Thursday, Memon said, “I believe that whether it is the PM or the Vice President, everyone should take these things in good humour. They should accept mimicry, caricature or a cartoon with an open heart. One need not take these things so seriously. I think the way this was received represents narrow-mindedness. (Late cartoonist) RK Laxman earned global acclaim with his caricatures. It isn’t right to file FIRs or indulge in politics over this. All that I would like to tell the Vice President is this: ‘It would have been better if you would have ignored it’,” Memon told ANI.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Vice President Dhankhar took strong exception to a viral video of TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicking his mannerisms and physical limitations on the Parliament complex, saying his conduct was ‘ridiculous’ and ‘unacceptable’.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was pictured capturing Banerjee’s act on his phone while other suspended Opposition members laughed and clapped.

On the three Bills to replace criminal laws from the colonial era, which were passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by a voice vote, Memon said it was ‘ironic’ that the draft legislations were cleared in the absence of the majority of Opposition members in the House.

“Three major criminal laws are sought to be replaced by a new set of legislations and see the irony that the Bills were pushed through the Lower House while the majority of Opposition members were sitting out. This is ridiculous. Lok Sabha passed these Bills in the absence of the Opposition, without any discussion or debate. The same thing will happen in the Rajya Sabha today. These laws are relevant to the day-to-day lives of 40 crore citizens. If such Bills are passed without any discussion in the House or referring them to an expert committee for further deliberations, then it sets a dangerous precedent for the country,” Memon added.

The Bills seek to replace the age-old Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act.

Reintroducing the Bills that were withdrawn earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the legislations align with the spirit of the Constitution.

The TMC leader said the Opposition would welcome the new criminal laws if they provide for severe punishment in mob lynching cases.

“Mob lynching is a serious crime and such incidents have gone up since 2015 (after the coming of the BJP-led NDA government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi). The gravity of such crimes needs to be considered and they ought to be put in the category of ‘rarest of rare’ crimes to attract a death sentence. The Supreme Court has laid down certain norms (about lynchings) and it is considered a grave crime across the world. The Opposition would welcome the new criminal laws if they ensure punishment for mob lynchings,” Memon said.

During a debate in the Lower House on the draft legislations on Wednesday, Amit Shah said mob lynching is a heinous crime and there is a provision for the death penalty for it in the Bills. (ANI)