New Delhi: A fresh controversy erupted in the Rajya Sabha after CPM MP John Brittas moved a Notice of Question of Privilege against BJP MP Sushmita Dev, alleging that she repeatedly referred to him as ‘Lungiwala‘ during proceedings on August 10.
Brittas alleged that the remarks were made while he was participating in the discussion on taxation-related business, including his Statutory Resolution seeking disapproval of the Income-Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026.
As per the claim, Dev left her allotted seat and moved to a seat behind Brittas, near TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, and repeatedly interrupted his intervention. Brittas has alleged that she addressed him as “Lungiwala” multiple times.
Brittas has termed the expression a “derogatory slur against South Indians”, arguing that the issue was not merely personal but concerned the dignity and cultural identity of an entire region.
“These remarks were not against me but against a culture. We are proud South Indians. I am proud Malayali. We have immense pride in our culture, language and attire,” Brittas said to Times Now.
He further said that disagreements and heated exchanges are part of parliamentary proceedings, but alleged that the use of a culturally derogatory expression crossed the line.
The CPM MP said he has moved the privilege notice before the Rajya Sabha Chairman and expressed hope that the matter would be examined.
Meanwhile, Brittas also launched a sharp attack on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over her remarks against communists, calling them “cowards”, which was later got expunged. He accused the Finance Minister of lacking knowledge of India’s history.
He alleged that while communists had faced execution during the freedom struggle while raising slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad”, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar had apologised to the British.
Brittas said the Finance Minister’s remarks reflected what he called a “shallow” understanding of history.
The controversy led to the adjournment of the Upper House amid continued confrontation between treasury and Opposition and sloganeering, turning into a question of parliamentary privilege and alleged cultural insult.