'Cheri language’ remark: BJP leader Khushbu Sundar finds Congress' warnings 'funny'

Chennai: BJP leader and National Commission for Women (NCW) member Khushbu Sundar, who has been facing criticism over her ‘cheri language’ remark, which is considered to be a casteist slur, on Saturday hit out at Congress saying that she was ready to face whatever the Congress workers were planning to do against her. She was referring to Congress’ protest warnings. 

She said, "I find it very funny that Congress is coming up with these things. We have seen Congress where Jawaharlal Nehru or Indira Gandhi had given themselves, awarded themselves Bharat Ratna. But Dr. Ambedkar was given Bharat Ratna by VP Singh when Atal Bihari Vajpayee and LK Advani had fought for it. So you can present yourself with Bharat Ratna. But all these years a man who was champion of the Dalits and the Scheduled caste you were never able to award him.” 

She claimed that she never used any foul language. On her ‘cheri language’ remark, she said there was a sarcasm attached to it. “This is very funny and if they say they're going to burn effigies or they're going to be right outside my door, I have seen enough of it. I have seen enough of these Congress guys...I've seen enough of these jokers. I'm ready to face them. People who know me, they know that I don't use any kind of foul language…," she added. 

The Chennai city police had stepped up security for the actor-politician after Congress announced a gherao in front of her house. The SC/ST wing of the party said the protest was against her ‘cheri language’ remarks. At least 25 police personnel were deployed to ensure maintenance of law and order in the vicinity. 

A controversy erupted earlier this week when Khushbu Sundar used the term ‘cheri’ while expressing her views about comments made by Tamil actor Mansoor Ali Khan against his Leo co-star Trisha on X. She later clarified that it was a French word which means lovable. 

"I was very sarcastic in my tweet. When I say 'cheri', I was very clear that it was a French word which means lovable, that's what I meant. 'I can't speak your lovable language, is what I wanted to tell you'. Probably, I am too intelligent for people around," the BJP leader further said.