What began as a sharp exchange on the floor of the House on Monday while CPM MP John Brittas was moving a resolution against the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance 2026 has now snowballed into a full-blown privilege battle.
Brittas alleged that privilege notice repeatedly called him ‘lungiwala’ while he was on his feet, a remark he says mocked his attire, his Malayali identity and, by extension, South Indians at large. Brittas has since moved a privilege notice against Dev, accusing her of using a derogatory regional slur.
Dev has hit back with a privilege notice of her own, firmly denying the allegation and accusing Brittas of making an objectionable, religiously charged remark moments earlier, while his microphone was still on. She insists the video footage of the proceedings should be examined to establish what actually happened.
The controversy has already disrupted proceedings. On Wednesday, protests over the alleged remarks forced an adjournment of the Rajya Sabha before lunch with chairman C P Radhakrishnan (a South Indian from Kerala’s neighbouring state Tamil Nadu from where he has been a two-time MP from Coimbatore) stepping in and summoning both MPs to his chamber.
Leader of the House J P Nadda and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju stressed that the dignity of Parliament must be preserved. With both sides now seeking the intervention of the Privileges Committee, the political battle has moved beyond the floor of the House.
Dev denied using any anti-South Indian slur and argued that the controversy has been politically manufactured by a declining Left Front seeking to regain ground in Kerala through polarisation. While acknowledging that an altercation took place, Dev alleged that Opposition members’ unparliamentary conduct is often allowed to go unchecked.
“I categorically stated that a wrong message should not be sent to the people of Kerala, because no such slur was used. What actually happened inside the House regarding this controversy? Let me state upfront that what is being reported is a total misrepresentation of facts,” she said.
Dev said it was Brittas who, while the Income Tax Amendment Bill was being discussed, made a deeply objectionable statement about the religious identity of certain members while his microphone was on. “Following that, I filed a breach of privilege notice against him. When it comes to a question of facts, he will claim I am misrepresenting, and I will say he is. Let the matter go to the Privileges Committee. I will present the video footage showing what he said. If he has any genuine proof, he should bring it forward as well. This entire episode is political.”
“Where is the official record? Media bytes are not parliamentary records. What matters is what is recorded on the floor of Parliament. I am not denying that we had a heated exchange.” she added.
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