2 weeks ago
Kharge Dons Mundu in Solidarity With Kerala MP Brittas
Some leaders in India's Parliament wear traditional clothes called 'mundu' or 'dhoti', which are long cloth garments common in places like Kerala.
A leader named Mallikarjun Kharge wore a mundu to Parliament one day.
He did this to support another leader, John Brittas, who had been the subject of a remark about wearing traditional clothes.
A group photograph was taken of leaders all wearing these garments together.
Another minister, Ramdas Athawale, made a rhyming speech during a debate about changing Kerala's name to Keralam.
His rhyme praised the prime minister and another senior leader.
He joked that some parties were on his side because their members stayed in the room.
But he quickly corrected himself, saying one leader was not with them.
Everyone laughed, including the person he joked about.
The story shows that even serious parliamentary meetings can include jokes and friendly moments.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge wore a Malayali 'mundu' to Parliament on Wednesday in solidarity with CPM MP John Brittas.
The gesture came amid the uproar over BJP MP Sushmita Dev's remark about Brittas's attire.
Kharge posed for a group photograph with MPs Haris Beeran, P Sandosh Kumar, Brittas and others, all wearing 'dhoti' or 'mundu'.
Minister Ramdas Athawale opened his speech on the Bill to rename Kerala as Keralam with a rhyme praising Modi and Amit Shah.
Athawale joked that DMK and AAP MPs were 'with us,' then corrected himself, saying Arvind Kejriwal is not with us but MP Sanjay Singh could join, drawing laughter.
- Who
- Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha; CPM MP John Brittas; BJP MP Sushmita Dev; Minister Ramdas Athawale; and MPs Haris Beeran and P Sandosh Kumar.
- What
- Kharge wore a Malayali 'mundu' to Parliament in solidarity with Brittas after Dev's remark about his attire, while Athawale made a rhyming remark during the debate on the Bill to rename Kerala as Keralam.
- Where
- The Rajya Sabha, Indian Parliament.
- When
- On Wednesday, during a Rajya Sabha session.
- Why
- To show solidarity with Kerala MP John Brittas amid the uproar over a remark about his traditional attire.
Opposition / INDIA bloc view
BJP / Government side
Traditional attire remark
Opposition / INDIA bloc view
Kharge and Opposition MPs wore dhoti/mundu in solidarity with John Brittas after Sushmita Dev's remark, treating it as an attack on traditional dress.
BJP / Government side
BJP MP Sushmita Dev's remark on Brittas's attire sparked the uproar; the article gives no detailed response from her side.
Engagement with the renaming Bill debate
Opposition / INDIA bloc view
The INDIA bloc walked out of the House during the debate, leaving the Opposition benches nearly empty.
BJP / Government side
Ramdas Athawale pointed out that DMK and AAP MPs remained in the House, saying they were 'with us', even as he ruled out Arvind Kejriwal's support.
Key facts
- Event
- Solidarity gesture over traditional attire and a rhyming speech during a Kerala renaming debate
- Key figure
- Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha
- Solidarity gesture
- Wearing a Malayali 'mundu' to Parliament
- Trigger
- BJP MP Sushmita Dev's remark on CPM MP John Brittas's attire
- MPs in solidarity photo
- Haris Beeran, P Sandosh Kumar, John Brittas and others
- Bill debated
- Renaming Kerala as Keralam in the Rajya Sabha
- Speaker
- Ramdas Athawale, MoS Social Justice and Empowerment
- Context
- INDIA bloc walkout left Opposition benches nearly empty
Quotes
Ramdas Athawale
Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment
“Arvind Kejriwal is not with us, but Sanjay ji [MP Sanjay Singh] can come with us”
indianexpress.com
“Modi ji aur Amit Shahji mein hai dum, iss liye unke saath hai hum”
indianexpress.com











