Rahul Gandhi calls Bittu ‘traitor’, BJP leader Bittu fires back with ‘desh ke dushman’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu clashed verbally outside the new Parliament building on Wednesday, sparking a political storm. Gandhi called Bittu a “traitor” while Bittu retaliated, pointing at Gandhi, with the jibe “desh ke dushman” (enemy of the nation).

The confrontation took place at the Makar Dwar , the main entrance used by MPs to enter Parliament. Gandhi was standing in solidarity with suspended Congress MPs, mostly from Punjab , who were protesting on the stairs. As Bittu approached, Gandhi said: “The thing is, here is a traitor walking right by. Take a look at the face. How he looks. Hello brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to the Congress).”

Bittu refused the handshake and fired back: “Desh ke dushman.” He later called Gandhi Sonia Gandhi’s “bigda hua beta” (spoiled child) and questioned why the remark was directed only at him as a Sikh. He accused Gandhi of disrespecting his family’s legacy, saying: “They think they are the biggest patriots because my grandfather’s name came up along with Rajiv Gandhi’s while naming martyrs. I am the grandson of a ‘shaheed’ and as long as I was in Congress it was fine. But now that I am with BJP, he is giving me such names.”

Ravneet Singh Bittu is a three-time MP from Ludhiana and Anandpur Sahib and currently serves as Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries . He switched from the Congress to the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Bittu is also the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh , who was assassinated in 1995.

The remark by Gandhi came amid Bittu’s party switch, which Gandhi perceived as political betrayal. Bittu, however, viewed it as an insult to him personally and to the Sikh community. The controversy also touched on historical grievances, with Bittu referencing the 1984 Golden Temple attack , alleging that the Gandhi family was responsible for the desecration of the sacred gurdwara and the killing of Sikhs.

BJP leaders, including Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa , condemned Gandhi’s remarks, calling them a slur on every Sikh . Puri said the comment ignored the Sikh community’s contributions to the nation and the sacrifices of Bittu’s grandfather. Sirsa added that Gandhi’s remark insulted the entire Sikh community, which has made significant sacrifices for India, and demanded that the Lok Sabha Speaker take action .

The incident has since escalated into a political controversy, highlighting both the personal clash between Gandhi and Bittu and the sensitive historical and community issues intertwined with it.