Rajya Sabha witnesses uproar over ‘Lungiwala’ remark; House adjourned till 2 pm

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm following uproar over CPI(M) MP John Brittas’s allegation that a female member called him “Lungiwala”. Chairman CP Radhakrishnan urged members to respect culture and identity, while Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought calm

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday witnessed noisy scenes and an eventual adjournment till 2 pm after CPI(M) member John Brittas raised the issue of an alleged disrespectful remark made against him by a female member.

After papers and reports were laid, Chairman CP Radhakrishnan allowed matters of urgent public importance. Brittas alleged that a female member had called him “Lungiwala”, which he said was disrespectful to him and his culture. The remark triggered an immediate uproar from both treasury and Opposition benches. The Chairman repeatedly urged members to allow him to make his observation, but the din continued.

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He then called Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to respond. Rijiju said that in the House every member is equal and “we all are Indians”. He added that if anything objectionable regarding the character of the country was said, the concerned members should be called to the Chairman’s chamber. However, persistent shouting drowned out the proceedings.

Amid the pandemonium, the Chairman read out his observation. He noted the issue raised by Brittas and advised members to be careful and not hurt the sentiments of fellow members. “Our culture is unique. There should be no disrespect to culture, identity or religion. I will call the member to my chamber and sort it out,” he said.

Despite the appeal, members continued shouting. The Chairman attempted to resume regular business and allowed nominated BJP member Satnam Singh Sandhu to speak, but the disruption persisted. He again called Rijiju, who said Brittas’s version was on record and that the other member should also be allowed to place her version on record.

Chairman then called Leader of the House JP Nadda, who said that the garment is called a dhoti and not a lungi, and that Sushmita Dev’s version should also be brought on record. With no let-up in the noise from both sides, the Chairman adjourned the House till 2 pm.

Earlier, the upper House transacted a heavy agenda of papers, audit reports, parliamentary committee findings and legislative business after assembling at 11 am. Ministers laid papers relating to the Ministries of Education, Finance, Social Justice and Empowerment, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Home Affairs, Railways, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Road Transport and Highways.

Finance Minister Pankaj Chaudhary tabled a large number of Comptroller and Auditor General reports covering subjects such as the Green India Mission, Direct Tax Vivad se Vishwas Scheme, FAME electric vehicle scheme, Defence Public Sector Undertakings, BharatNet, GST, Customs, Railway finances, Border Roads Organisation bridges, Project Seabird and several other performance and compliance audits.

The Secretary-General laid the report of the Inquiry Committee under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, in respect of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court, along with the oral and documentary evidence recorded during the inquiry.

Sanjay Kumar Jha presented the 393rd Report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on preserving India’s cultural heritage in the age of artificial intelligence. Members also tabled reports of the Public Accounts Committee, Standing Committees on Agriculture, Coal Mines and Steel, Defence, Finance, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Social Justice and Empowerment.