Congress protests against Khushbu Sundar’s ‘cheri language’ remark; ‘shows how much you respect women’, says BJP leader

The protestors were taken away by the police from the spot and later detained.

MP Ranjan Kumar, the leader of the SC wing of the TNCC, who led the protest, told media that Sundar had disrespected the SC community and hence, she should tender an unconditional apology and remove her post from X, formerly Twitter.

Meanwhile, Sundar reacted to the protest and said such incidents show how much Congress respects women. “I don’t see these people raising their voices when atrocities are committed against Dalits. Even after 37 years, you (Congress) still need a Khushbu to gain two-minute fame,” she said.

When asked whether she still stands by what she had posted, Khushbu said she has already provided an explanation that she had not used the term in a wrong sense. She added that she is not someone who would delete a tweet or take back her words in fear of someone since she has not committed any mistake.

VIDEO | Congress workers protest outside BJP leader Khushbu Sundar's residence in Chennai, Tamil Nadu following row over her 'Cheri language' remark. pic.twitter.com/I91Wvvn5Wc

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 28, 2023

A controversy erupted after Khushbu allegedly used derogatory language while responding to a DMK supporter on X.

She had said, “This is what DMK goons do. Use a foul language. But this is what they are taught. To insult a woman. Sorry can’t speak your cheri language but I would suggest wake up and look what was spoken and action taken. And if DMK does not teach you about laws, then shame on you being a lawyer and shame on your leader for having idiots like you around him. (sic)”.

Sundar was responding to the DMK supporter who had used cuss words against her and had questioned her alleged hypocrisy on being swift to take action against the derogatory comments made by Tamil actor Mansoor Ali Khan against actor Trisha but staying silent on the Manipur issue .

We strongly condemn the use of the term ‘Cheri language’ by Mrs Khushbu!

In Mrs Khushbu’s response to a tweet she labels the use of foul language to insult women as ‘Cheri language’. Cheri is the Tamil word for Dalit ghettos, the place that has witnessed inter-generational… pic.twitter.com/3ygT9sTYfe

— நீலம் பண்பாட்டு மையம் (@Neelam_Culture) November 22, 2023

In response to Khushbu’s remark, several users and activists condemned the BJP leader and demanded an apology.

Director Pa Ranjith’s Neelam Cultural Centre said in a tweet, “Cheri is the Tamil word for Dalit ghettos, the place that has witnessed inter-generational resistance of Dalit women against caste, gender and other forms of oppression. Normalising the ‘colloquial’ use of this term to denote foul and disrespect, within the connotation of profanity disregards the history, culture and lives of the community. This is unacceptable and strongly condemnable.”

A member of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) too filed a complaint against Sundar.

Amid criticisms, Sundar offered an explanation and said her tweet was laced with sarcasm and she had used the French word ‘cheri’ meaning beloved.

How funny to see an outrage from a bunch of selective crowd over my language in my tweet. The same are mute spectators to an outrage of women modesty. Would like to educate the educated illiterates a little about it. My tweet is laced with sarcasm. 'Cheri' is a word in French… pic.twitter.com/xVifEuTuz8

— KhushbuSundar (Modi ka Parivaar) (@khushsundar) November 22, 2023