Now, Rahul says dogs allowed inside Parliament building

A day after Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury sparked a row by arriving at Parliament with her pet dog and remarking that “those who bite are inside”, the controversy deepened on Tuesday when Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi made light of the episode, prompting a strong response from the BJP.

Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex, Rahul joked that the “dog seemed to be the headline today”, and wondered why the animal had become an issue at all. He asked whether the pet had even entered the building and questioned if there was any clear rule prohibiting it. When the media pointed out that pets are generally not permitted, Rahul gestured towards the new Parliament building and quipped that “they appear to be allowed in”, drawing laughter from those gathered.

The BJP hit back immediately, saying Rahul’s comments lowered the dignity of the House. Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said both Chowdhury and Rahul had forgotten that an MP carries a responsibility to uphold Parliament’s decorum. He argued that even if Rahul had not named anyone, his choice of words implied that all those inside Parliament, including members of both sides and staff, were being referred to in poor taste, something he claimed the public could clearly understand.

Patra urged Rahul to reflect on whether such remarks were befitting of a national leader. “We expect better from him. He should listen to both comments again and consider whether this is the language the country wants from him,” he said.

Another BJP spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari, went a step further, accusing Rahul of effectively comparing MPs to dogs and alleging that such behaviour reflected how “dynasts view Parliament”.