‘Traitor friend’: Rahul Gandhi’s dig at Ravneet Bittu sparks political storm

The Parliament complex turned into a political battlefield on Wednesday as tempers flared and the long-running Congress-BJP rivalry spilled into the open. What began as a protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi quickly escalated into a personal confrontation between Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu, adding fresh fuel to an already volatile session.

Congress MPs gathered outside Parliament accusing the Prime Minister of being “compromised”, a charge linked to their attack on the India-US trade deal. The protest came a day after Rahul repeated the same allegation before the media, setting the tone for another day of confrontation.

As slogans echoed near the Makar Dwar, Bittu walked past the protesting lawmakers. The situation took a dramatic turn when Bittu made a remark that the MPs appeared to be “sitting as if they had won a war”. The comment drew an immediate response from Rahul, who pointed him out to fellow MPs and addressed him as a “traitor friend”.

Rahul, dressed in black as part of the protest, extended his hand towards Bittu and remarked that he would “come back” (to the Congress) one day. Bittu refused to shake hands. The exchange that followed was brief but charged, with both men trading sharp words amid a tense crowd. What was meant to be a protest against the government suddenly became a face-off between two political rivals with a shared past.

Addressing reporters later, Ravneet Bittu accused Rahul Gandhi of behaving like a “sadak ka gunda” and alleged that the Congress leader was acting against the country. He said Rahul had called him a “traitor” and claimed that the protesting MPs were “desh ke dushman”.

At a press conference, senior BJP leaders condemned Rahul’s remarks, saying they hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the word “traitor” carried a grave meaning and should not be used lightly, especially against a Sikh leader. He stressed that such language questioned a person’s loyalty to the nation and crossed the limits of political decorum.

Delhi minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa went further, linking the remark to painful memories of 1984 and accusing the Congress of carrying an anti-Sikh mindset. He said branding a Sikh minister a “traitor” was shameful and demanded action against Rahul. Other BJP leaders echoed the sentiment, calling the episode an insult not just to Bittu but to an entire community known for its sacrifices.

Bittu’s political journey has added another layer to the row. A three-time Lok Sabha MP from the Congress before joining the BJP, he lost the 2024 election from Ludhiana.