Parliament Clash Erupts as Rahul Gandhi Labels Ravneet Bittu a 'Traitor'
A bitter confrontation unfolded at the main entrance of the Parliament building in New Delhi on Wednesday, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Ravneet Bittu engaging in a sharp exchange that quickly escalated into a political controversy. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated by Congress, occurred as Rahul stood in solidarity with eight suspended MPs who were protesting nearby.
Heated Exchange Caught on Camera
As Bittu, a former Congress MP who switched to the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, walked towards Parliament for morning proceedings, he reportedly mocked the protesting MPs by saying they were "sitting as if they had won a war." This comment appeared to annoy Rahul Gandhi and his colleagues, setting the stage for the confrontation.
When Bittu approached to walk past, Rahul pointed at him and declared, "The thing is, here is a traitor walking right by. Take a look at the face. How he looks." Bittu immediately wagged his finger and retorted with "desh ke dushman" (enemy of the country).
Mocking Handshake and Jeers
In a further escalation, Rahul extended his hand toward Bittu and said, "Hello brother, my traitor friend," adding, "Don't worry, you will come back (to Congress)." Bittu, however, did not reciprocate the handshake gesture. As he walked past, Congress MPs jeered with chants of "surrender, surrender," amplifying the tense atmosphere.
BJP Protests Over 'Traitor' Remark
The altercation had immediate political fallout outside Parliament, with the BJP launching strong protests against Rahul Gandhi's "traitor" jibe. The party fielded several Sikh leaders to condemn the remark, including Union Minister Hardeep Puri, Delhi Minister Manjinder Sirsa, and MLA Arvinder Lovely.
Puri emphasized that the term "traitor" is typically reserved for those who betray their country and argued that Rahul's comment was particularly insulting to Sikhs. He highlighted that Bittu is the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated by Khalistani terrorists and is widely respected for his role in restoring normalcy in Punjab during turbulent times.
"Use of such language for a member of such a family is not only shameful but an insult to the entire Sikh community," Puri alleged. "His comment is a slur on every Sikh. It is an insult to the contributions made by Sikhs in every sphere."
Past Association Between Rahul and Bittu
The confrontation carries added significance given the previous close association between Rahul Gandhi and Ravneet Bittu. Before crossing over to the BJP, Bittu had been a Congress MP and maintained a friendly relationship with Rahul. He contested from Ludhiana on a BJP ticket in the 2024 elections but lost to Congress candidate Amarinder Raja Warring.
Interestingly, Punjab Congress leaders circulated an old video clip in which Bittu credits Rahul Gandhi for encouraging him to start wearing a turban. In the viral footage, Bittu says, "If I am standing here in a turban, it's because of Rahul Gandhi, who told me I should wear a turban." This historical context adds layers to their current political rivalry and the personal nature of their exchange.
The incident underscores the deepening political divisions and personal animosities that have come to characterize parliamentary interactions, with both sides leveraging emotional and community-sensitive narratives to score political points.
