Here's a traitor: Rahul Gandhi jabs aide-turned-BJP minister Ravneet Bittu outside Parliament
Rahul Gandhi referred to former Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu as his "traitor friend," prompting a strong response from the BJP leader, who hit back by calling Gandhi a "desh ka dushman" (enemy of the nation).
A sharp war of words broke out between Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and his former aide and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu in Parliament premises on Wednesday, as tensions flared ahead of the day’s proceedings.
The exchange occurred during an opposition protest before the session began.
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 retorted by calling Gandhi a “desh ke dushman” (enemy of the nation).
As Bittu walked past protesting Congress MPs near the Makar Dwar, Gandhi was heard saying, “Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face.”
Gandhi then appeared to extend his hand towards Bittu, adding, “Hello brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to Congress).”
Bittu declined to shake hands and responded sharply, calling Gandhi a “desh ke dushman” (enemy of the nation), as the two leaders were seen briefly exchanging words.
In response to the incident, the Union Minister said that when he was in the Congress, its leaders considered themselves the “greatest patriots,” but he now strongly disagrees with that view.
Referring to the period of militancy in Punjab, he alleged that the Gandhi family was responsible for the turmoil and claimed that Sikhs were targeted and killed during that time.
Taking a swipe at his former colleagues, Bittu said that if he were still in the BJP earlier, they would have treated him with deference.
Emphasising his Sikh identity, he said he wore his turban with pride and reiterated that he considers the Gandhi family “enemies of the country,” adding that he would never shake hands with them.
Today's war of words comes more than two years after Ravneet Bittu had sparked controversy with his remarks targeting Rahul Gandhi.
In 2024, Bittu had criticised the Congress MP over his comments on Sikhs during a visit to the US and went so far as to call him “the number one terrorist of the country.”
The Congress had strongly condemned the statement, describing Bittu’s remarks as “bottom-tier” and saying his political career in the party, before he switched to the BJP, had been a “mess.” The party had also demanded that the BJP immediately sack him over the comment.