A heated political confrontation unfolded in Parliament on Tuesday when Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu engaged in a sharp verbal spat during a Congress protest. The incident occurred near the Makar Dwar ahead of the day’s proceedings, instantly escalating into a full-blown political controversy.
Rahul Gandhi referred to Bittu, a former Congress leader who joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as a “traitor friend” while addressing fellow Congress MPs. As Bittu walked past, Gandhi remarked, “Here is a traitor walking right by,” before extending a handshake and adding that Bittu would eventually return to the Congress.
Bittu firmly rejected the gesture and retaliated by calling Gandhi a “desh ke dushman” (enemy of the nation). He later justified his reaction by accusing the Gandhi family of historical wrongs against the Sikh community, referencing Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. Bittu stated that as a Sikh, he could never shake hands with what he described as the “murderers of Sikhs.”
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The exchange drew strong reactions from BJP leaders, with Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa condemning Gandhi’s remark as an insult to the Sikh community. Sirsa alleged that the comment reflected the Congress party’s unchanged mindset and accused the Gandhi family of being the real traitors.
The Congress, however, defended Rahul Gandhi’s statement, arguing that Bittu’s defection justified the language used. Senior Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring claimed the remark stemmed from frustration over Gandhi being repeatedly denied the opportunity to speak in the House.
The clash took place amid heightened tensions following the suspension of eight Opposition MPs for the remainder of the Budget Session over alleged violations of House rules. The incident has further intensified the already volatile political atmosphere in Parliament, with both sides trading sharp accusations and hardening their positions.
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