Congress vs BJP over Jagdeep Dhankar mimicry row, WFI chief election

The row over an Opposition MP mimicking Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar in a corner of the precincts of Parliament earlier this week has now escalated into a full-blown drama.

A political slugfest unfolded after Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicked Dhankhar during the Opposition's protest on the Parliament stairs earlier this week. They were protesting against the suspension of MPs from both Houses.

The act drew sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as clips showed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi video-recording the performance.

President Droupadi Murmu, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also expressed dismay over the incident.

Meanwhile, Jagdeep Dhankhar condemned the act on the floor of the Upper House as an "insult to Jats". He also expressed his distress over a "senior Congress leader" recording the performance.

The argument between the Congress and the BJP took another turn after Sanjay Singh, a confidant of the former chief of the Wrestling Federation of India and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, won the wrestling body elections.

Congress highlighted the shared community ties between the protesting wrestlers and Vice President Dhankhar and demanded answers.

The party questioned Dhankar's silence on wrestler Sakshee Malikkh's retirement after Sanjay Singh was elected the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Prominent Congress Jat leaders, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Vijender Singh (renowned boxer and Olympian), and Alka Lamba, united on stage to criticise the BJP's handling of the WFI election and Malikkh's subsequent retirement.

Surjewala pointedly questioned the silence of the President, Prime Minister, and Vice President of India on Sakshee Malikkh's retirement and asked, "Why a farmer's daughter who has won medals for the nation has been forced to retire as Brij Bhushan Singh's partner became the president of WFI."

Former Olympian and boxer Vijendra Singh echoed these sentiments, calling it a "sad and black day for sports" and challenging the government's "inaction". He questioned whether the same silence would prevail if the plight befell their own daughters and sisters.

"We will go to each akhara and stadium. We will speak to the wrestlers and sportspersons about their safety and their livelihoods," Vijender said, expressing concern for the welfare of athletes.