‘Lungiwala’ remark row rocks Rajya Sabha: What happened between Sushmita Dev, John Brittas — All you need to know

A controversy erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday after BJP MP Sushmita Dev was accused of making derogatory remarks about Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas during a previous session. The incident, which occurred on August 10, involved Brittas alleging that Dev had called him "lungiwala" while he was moving a statutory resolution and that she had moved from her designated seat to one directly behind him.

Upon learning of Brittas' allegations, Dev denied the claims and stated that she had not made any disparaging references to the attire associated with any particular state. She emphasized that she had known Brittas for a long time and was open to speaking with him to clarify any misunderstandings. Dev also mentioned that the incident had been reported in a misleading manner, particularly in Kerala, where she has strong ties to the state and its cultural traditions.

The matter escalated further when Brittas filed a privilege motion against Dev, accusing her of breaching parliamentary protocol. Dev responded by filing a counter-motion and provided a video recording of the original incident. The dispute quickly gained traction among Opposition MPs, who protested outside the Parliament building, carrying placards that read "Our pride, not your prejudice" and "Hey BJP stop cultural policing."

They demanded respect for India's cultural diversity and criticized BJP for targeting individuals based on their attire.

In response, Leader of the House JP Nadda offered to mediate between the two MPs, suggesting that they meet in his chamber to resolve the misunderstanding. Brittas later shared a video on social media, showing Opposition leaders participating in the protest, dressed in traditional Kerala-style mundus. The incident underscored the importance of respecting cultural differences in the Indian Parliament and highlighted the need for a more inclusive and tolerant environment within the legislative body.