Insults fly as Rahul Gandhi, Ravneet Bittu trade ‘traitor’ and ‘enemy of the country’ jibes

A crisp speech of words betwixt Lok Sabha Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu escalated into a governmental contention connected Wednesday (February 4, 2026), prompting BJP-led Sikh groups to protestation extracurricular the Congress bureau successful the metropolis by precocious afternoon.

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The confrontation took spot adjacent Parliament’s “Makar Dwar”, wherever Congress MPs were protesting the suspension of 8 Opposition MPs from the Lok Sabha the erstwhile day. The suspension followed disruptions implicit the India-U.S. commercialized deal, and Mr. Gandhi’s effort to punctuation from a mag study carrying excerpts from erstwhile Army main General (retd) Mukund Naravane’s unpublished book, Four Stars of Destiny, which was not permitted.

As Mr. Bittu was walking past the protesting MPs, Mr. Gandhi remarked, “Here is simply a traitor”—referring to Mr. Bittu’s power from the Congress to the BJP up of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls—adding, “Look astatine the face.” Extending his manus for a handshake, Mr. Gandhi said, “Hello brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you volition travel backmost (to the Congress).” To this, Mr Bittu responded by calling Mr. Gandhi “Desh ka dushman” (enemy of the country).

Voices were raised arsenic Mr. Bittu climbed the stairs starring into Parliament. Speaking to the media later, helium alleged that determination was an effort to manhandle him portion helium was entering the complex. “They behaved similar a ‘sadak ka gunda’ (street thug). He (Rahul Gandhi) did the aforesaid happening adjacent wrong the House; the Speaker sent them out. I was bully for you arsenic agelong arsenic I was with you (in the Congress). Now that I americium successful the BJP, you person started disliking me,” helium said. Mr. Bittu past went connected to callback the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 that followed the assassination of erstwhile Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “I said, you are the biggest traitor of this country—the murderers of Sikhs,” helium said.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri aboriginal held a property conference, decrying Mr. Gandhi’s “traitor” remark. He described it arsenic “a slur connected each Sikh” and “an insult to the contributions made by Sikhs successful each sphere and to our faith”. He besides said the remark besides insulted “the sacrifice of Bittuji’s gramps and erstwhile Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Beant Singh.”

Responding to the BJP’s claims, Congress MLA from Punjab Sukhpal Singh Khaira accused the ruling enactment of conflating the disapproval of Mr. Bittu with an insult to the Sikh community. In a station connected "X", Mr. Khaira said, "The connection 'My Traitor Friend' utilized by @RahulGandhi LoP was to code @RavneetBittu arsenic an idiosyncratic who ditched the enactment successful investigating times and is by nary means an insult to the Sikh assemblage arsenic being portrayed by @HardeepSPuri and different @BJP4India leaders ! It is communal cognition that @INCIndia ever rewarded Ravneet Bittu and his household with precocious positions and made him MP 3 times from Punjab. It is his cowardly behaviour that has earned him the adjective “Traitor” ! And lastly, @RavneetBittu has been rejected by Punjab and does not correspond the authorities oregon the Sikh assemblage successful immoderate way".

Later successful the day, the Delhi BJP besides staged a protestation extracurricular the Congress bureau successful New Delhi implicit the issue.