The Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi (VCK) has lodged a police complaint against BJP leader and  National Women’s Commission (NCW) member Khusbhu Sundar for using the word ‘cheri language’ while responding to a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supporter who used swear words while interacting with her on X platform, formerly known as Twitter.

Khushbu Sundar, while replying to a handle that questioned her alleged silence on Manipur wrote on X, on November 21, “Sorry, I cannot speak your cheri language but I would suggest waking up and look at what was spoken and action taken.” The DMK supporter made the comment to Khushu after she expressed her views on derogatory comments made by Tamil actor Mansoor Ali Khan against actor Trisha.

The word cheri in Tamil refers to Dalit colonies that are segregated from the rest of a village or town. In bigger cities like Chennai, cheri is also used to refer to slums. Further, the term is often used to derogatorily refer to anything crude or crass. The contentious use of the word may be seen in relation to how the offensive term ‘ghetto slang’ has been used to dehumanise the vocabulary of Black Americans. The VCK has now demanded that a case should be filed against Khushbu under the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes, Act (PoA). 

A statement released by I Karthik, a VCK functionary who lodged the police complaint, said, “Her remark about not knowing how to speak cheri language insults me and my Dalit people and the language we have been speaking for 2000 years while living in the cheris.” It also said her comments have caused him deep mental distress. “Her suggestion that the language of the cheris is inherently violent and unacceptable is humiliating to me,” the statement said.

Khushbu, however, offered a bizarre explanation when she was criticised for using a term which many considered casteist and classist. She claimed that she was using the French word ‘Cheri’ which means beloved. 

The DMK supporter, using swear words, had asked Khushbu why she and the rest of the NCW had remained silent when women in Manipur were sexually assaulted. 

Khushbu replied saying, “This is what DMK goons do. Use foul language. But this is what they are taught. To insult a woman. Sorry I can't speak your cheri language but I would suggest waking up and look at what was spoken and action taken. And if DMK does not teach you about laws, then shame on you for being a lawyer and shame on your leader for having idiots like you around him. MK Stalin [Tamil Nadu Chief Minister] beware of the bunch of fools who are out there to destroy you.”

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