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Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge joined MPs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu in wearing the traditional mundu to Parliament on Wednesday, August 12, in a protest over a row involving an alleged ‘lungiwala’ remark against CPI(M) MP John Brittas.
John, who represents Kerala in the Rajya Sabha, has alleged that BJP MP Sushmita Dev referred to him as “lungiwala” during a debate in the Upper House on August 10. He said the term was used in a derogatory manner and amounted to an insult to his identity and the cultural identity associated with traditional south Indian attire.
The allegation triggered an uproar in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, with the proceedings being adjourned before lunch.
John later said he was speaking in the House when Sushmita allegedly made the remark. “The other day, while I was speaking in the House, she made a derogatory remark, "lungiwala," against me. I was wearing a dhoti, and I am proud to be a Malayali and proud to be a south Indian. These are all part of her attire and culture, but such stereotypes made in a derogatory manner are not acceptable. I feel that the House should take a view on this, and we have moved a privilege motion against her. I have nothing against her,” he told the media.
John also accused the BJP of resorting to regional stereotypes and insults when confronted over policy issues. In a post on X, he said, “From "anti national" to regional slurs, the BJP’s tactic of resorting to insults when cornered on policy stands exposed once again. Calling me "Lungiwala" during the TOLA Bill debate was an insult to the entire cultural identity of South India.”
The CPI(M) MP subsequently shared a photograph of MPs wearing mundu in Parliament, including Kharge and MPs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. “Our attire is our culture...Our attire is our pride! At the Parliament with Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, who joined in solidarity wearing a Kerala-style mundu, along with fellow MPs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu,” he wrote.
Sushmita, however, has denied the version of events put forward by John and said she has herself moved a breach of privilege motion against him. Speaking to PTI, she said the motion was pending before the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
“What he said on the mic regarding religion and a party's allegiance is very unlike him. I have known Mr Brittas for a very long time, and I am shocked by the kind of news that has reached Kerala, a state that I love dearly…for this to be spread is completely misleading, and I hope the people of Kerala will wait till the motion of privilege is decided to see who is right and who is wrong. But Mr Brittas is a dear friend of mine, and on the floor of the House, I have told him that if he wants any clarification from me, he is welcome to come to me and talk to me anytime,” she said.
Sushmita said she was surprised by the reports emerging from Kerala and maintained that the matter should be decided through the parliamentary privilege process.
The controversy stems from a debate in the Rajya Sabha on August 10, when John alleged that the remark was made while he was speaking during discussion on the Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill. The dispute subsequently spilled into the House on August 12, prompting MPs from Kerala and Tamil Nadu to wear mundu as a symbolic assertion of regional and cultural identity.