The Rajya Sabha witnessed a ruckus on Wednesday as the ruling side and the Opposition locked horns over the alleged remarks on a House member’s attire.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) Sushmita Dev had made a disparaging remark about his attire and moved a motion of privilege against her. Brittas was wearing a Mundu, a garment worn by men in Kerala. However, Dev later clarified in the House that she did not cast aspersions on any state’s attire.
Soon after the House proceedings began, Brittas said the BJP MP had on Monday “repeatedly” disturbed him while he was speaking and proceeded to comment on his attire. “Verbal duel is okay… We fight each other… But she repeatedly made derogatory remarks over my attire...,” Brittas said in the House.
Deep Dive
What prompted John Brittas to move a motion of privilege against Sushmita Dev?
Why is the term 'Mundu' significant in the context of the attire dispute in Parliament?
How did Sushmita Dev respond to the allegations made by John Brittas regarding her comments on his attire?
The MP who represents Kerala in the Upper House said he is proud of his Malayali identity, culture and traditional attire and disparaging remarks on the Mundu was objectionable.
Speaking to HT outside Parliament he said, “While I was moving the statutory resolution, she came from her seat and was disturbing me…So I said, you see these turn coats are more enthusiastic in criticism… then she started calling me lungi walla …which is highly derogatory.” Brittas had soon after filed a notice for moving a privilege motion against her.
Following Brittas’s statement in the House, Rajya Sabha chairman, CP Radhakrishnan said, certain instances have come to his notice regarding discourteous and undignified comments being made by Members interrupting the speech of other Members in the House. “...I would advise that Hon’ble Members should be careful not to hurt the sentiments and feelings of fellow Members. Our culture is unique and inclusive of diverse regional cultures. There should be no disrespect to the cultural traditions and regional identities of our colleagues,” he said, adding that he would speak to both sides.
{{/usCountry}}Following Brittas’s statement in the House, Rajya Sabha chairman, CP Radhakrishnan said, certain instances have come to his notice regarding discourteous and undignified comments being made by Members interrupting the speech of other Members in the House. “...I would advise that Hon’ble Members should be careful not to hurt the sentiments and feelings of fellow Members. Our culture is unique and inclusive of diverse regional cultures. There should be no disrespect to the cultural traditions and regional identities of our colleagues,” he said, adding that he would speak to both sides.
{{/usCountry}}Union minister JP Nadda who is also the leader of the House said his party does not subscribe to such statements. “...We do not call it lungi; we call it dhoti,” he said.
As the two sides locked horns over the issue, the House was adjourned till 2 p.m.
Speaking outside Parliament Dev said she had not used the term and also accused Brittas of instigating her by using the term turncoat. Dev also submitted a notice to move a motion of privilege against Brittas for making a reference to “religion and a party’s allegiance”.
Later when the House reassembled she said, “I would like to say on record, no message from this should go that any member wants a division in India culturally or on the basis of religion. I’m from Assam… I’m a Bengali from Assam… I have seen various states of the north east where different attires are worn…Neither I nor any member has cast any aspersion on any state’s attire.”
According to a person aware of the details, Dev’s statement in the House came after the short video clip of the incident was shown to both the Chairman and the parliamentary affairs minister. “It was made clear that Brittas did not use any reference to any religion…as was alleged by Dev. Several lawmakers had urged Dev on Monday to clear the air with Brittas and AAP’s Sanjay Singh has even offered to mediate…” said a person aware of the details.