Cong MP brings dog to Parliament, says 'those who bite are in govt'

The Congress found itself in a rather unusual controversy after its Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury arrived in Parliament with a dog on Monday. However what sparked an outrage was her analogy between the animal and the MPs inside.

"Those who bite are inside Parliament," she quipped, a remark that the BJP called an insult to Parliament.

Chowdhury reached Parliament for the winter session; however to everyone's surprise, she came with her pet. Though she sent the puppy home in her car, its brief presence on the premises, along with her remarks, triggered talks on parliamentary protocol.

The MP claimed that she adopted the puppy while on her way to Parliament and sought to know if any law bars a member from coming with a dog.

"What protocol? Is there a law? While on my way to Parliament House, I spotted the puppy near a collision site. Afraid that it could be run over, I picked it up and brought it here in the car. Then I sent it back home," she told reporters.

How could anyone object to an act of saving the life of an animal, she asked. Turning the conversation to criticism, she then targeted the government. "Those who bite are sitting inside Parliament and running the government. Is there no problem with that? If I take care of an animal, it becomes a topic of discussion," she said, adding that she has adopted many indie dogs from the streets in the past.

The BJP reacted sharply to her comment, with party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala saying that the Congress MP has compared all her colleagues and even parliamentary staff to a dog.

"Renuka Chaudhary has insulted Parliament and MPs. She brings a dog to Parliament, and when asked about it, she says that those who bite are inside. That means the Parliament, Parliamentary staff, and the MPs. They are dogs, in her opinion. She has in the past also insulted our jawans when she mocked Operation Mahadev and Operation Sindoor," said Poonawala.