NEW DELHI: A sharp war of words broke out between Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu in Parliament premises on February 4 ahead of the day’s proceedings.
The exchange occurred during an opposition protest before the session began.
Rahul Gandhi referred to Ravneet Bittu, a three-time MP from the Congress who joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, as his “traitor friend,” drawing an immediate and pointed response from the BJP leader, who replied by calling Gandhi a “desh ke dushman” (enemy of the nation).
Notably, earlier today when Bittu walked past protesting Congress MPs, Rahul Gandhi was heard saying, “Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face.” He then extended his hand towards Bittu, adding, “Hello brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to Congress).”
Ravneet Bittu declined to shake hands and called Gandhi a “desh ke dushman” (enemy of the nation).
While speaking to the media Bittu said the Gandhi family is responsible for the disrespect faced by Sikhs, alleging incidents like attacks on gurudwaras in Punjab. He accused them of making statements against the country, while questioning him despite the fact that he is the grandson of a martyr and his family has made sacrifices for the nation. Bittu said he cannot shake hands with such people, and that is why he responded in that manner.
He further said, “Congress party and Gandhi family had set Punjab on fire. Bullets were fired at our biggest Gurudwara, at Golden Temple. They targeted thousands of Sikhs, Punjabis and killed them. If Rajiv Gandhi is called ‘shaheed’, we should also say shaheed-e-azam Sardar Beant Singh. I also come from that family, this is my pain. Grandson of one martyr was fine as long as I was with him. Now that I am in the BJP, he is using such words for me. What does he think of himself? He extended his hand towards me as if he is an emperor. He considers himself the owner of this country, of this world. I might not belong to Gandhi family, but I have a turban on my head. So, when he offered to shake hands with me, I said ‘aap log toh desh ke gaddar ho, desh ke dushman ho’ who speaks against the Army and the nation everyday. Gandhi family is the murder of Sikhs, I won’t shake hands with the son of that family.”
“You have committed this sin. You have insulted the Sikhs, used abusive language, and we condemn this in the strongest terms. We will not tolerate it at all,” he said, adding that immediate action had been taken against Rahul Gandhi.
Delhi minister and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, “If anyone is a traitor, it is Rahul Gandhi. Sikhs can never be traitors. The usage of such words shows that the mentality of the Congress has not changed over the years.”
Referencing Operation Bluestar, Sirsa said the Gandhi family had always stood against the Sikh community. “The Lok Sabha Speaker should act against Rahul Gandhi at the earliest.”
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, while giving a reference to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Bittu’s family gave up their lives for the country, and to term him a traitor is uncalled for. The Sikh community will not forget this insult.”
