Delhi: The political tension gripping Parliament during the Budget Session has now spilled beyond the House, with sharp words exchanged outside its gates. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Thursday weighed in on the heated confrontation between Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, calling out both sides for using inappropriate language.
Speaking to news agency, the Rajya Sabha MP said the verbal duel reflected the deepening bitterness in national politics. “Inappropriate language was used by both sides,” she said, while also questioning the BJP’s reaction to the episode.
“How does this become an insult to the nation? The BJP tries to take political advantage in every incident,” Chaturvedi remarked, pushing back against the ruling party’s narrative around the controversy.
She further linked the incident to the overall atmosphere in Parliament, saying, “The exchange between the two reflects what is happening in the Lok Sabha session: bitterness and discord, both sides taking rigid stances, and no coordination, no middle ground, no dialogue. What happened in the Parliament premises was a reflection of that.”
What Triggered the Confrontation
The face-off took place on February 4 outside Parliament, where Congress MPs suspended from the Lok Sabha were staging a protest. As Ravneet Singh Bittu walked past the demonstrators, Rahul Gandhi referred to him as a “traitor”, a remark linked to Bittu’s decision to leave the Congress and join the BJP in 2024.
Escalating the exchange, Gandhi extended his hand and said, “Hello, brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to Congress).”
Bittu refused the handshake and hit back strongly, calling Rahul Gandhi “Desh ke dushman.”
The protesting MPs were seen holding placards reading “PM is compromised,” echoing Gandhi’s recent allegations while addressing the media on the India–US trade agreement.
Backdrop of Suspensions and Disruptions
The confrontation came amid heightened unrest in Parliament. Eight opposition MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha for the remainder of the Budget Session over alleged violations of House rules, including throwing papers towards the Speaker’s chair during protests. The disruptions followed Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on raising the issue of the 2020 India–China standoff in eastern Ladakh.
