A fierce political war of words erupted at Parliament’s Makar Dwar on February 4, 2026, after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi labeled Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu a “traitor.” The exchange, which was caught on camera, has drawn sharp condemnation from the BJP, which termed the remark an insult to the Sikh community.
The Confrontation: “Hello, My Traitor Friend”
The incident occurred while Rahul Gandhi was standing with several suspended Opposition MPs who were protesting against the government. As Ravneet Bittu, a former Congress leader who joined the BJP in 2024, passed by, the following exchange took place:
- The Comment: Bittu reportedly remarked that the protesting MPs were sitting as if they had “won a war.”
- The Jibe: Gandhi immediately retorted, “Here is a traitor walking right by. Take a look at the face.”
- The Sarcasm: Extending his hand for a handshake, Gandhi added, “Hello brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to the Congress).”
- The Retort: Bittu refused the handshake, pointed at Gandhi, and shot back: “Desh ke dushman” (Enemy of the nation).
BJP’s Sharp Retaliation
Senior BJP leaders quickly moved to defend Bittu, framing Gandhi’s comments as an attack on the legacy of Bittu’s grandfather, former Punjab CM Beant Singh, who was assassinated by terrorists.
1. Hardeep Singh Puri’s Critique
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri took to X to state that Gandhi had crossed “all boundaries of civility.”
“Calling a distinguished Sikh a traitor without any basis is a slur on the entire Sikh community. Gandhi may have many friends who are traitors, but Bittu is not one of them,” Puri wrote.
2. Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s Demand for Action
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa demanded that the Lok Sabha Speaker take immediate action against Gandhi.
“A Sikh Sardar can never be a traitor. If there is a traitor, it is the Gandhi family, which attacked Sri Darbar Sahib with tanks,” Sirsa said, referring to Operation Blue Star.
3. Ravneet Bittu’s Personal Rebuttal
Speaking to the media later, Bittu alleged that Gandhi attempted to “manhandle” him and described his behavior as that of a “sadak ka gunda” (street thug). He reminded Gandhi that while the Congress might call him a traitor for switching parties, his family has made the ultimate sacrifice for India’s unity.
Context: High-Voltage Budget Session
The spat comes at a time when Parliament is already paralyzed. Eight Opposition MPs remain suspended for “unruly behavior” following a debate over the India-China border and former Army Chief Gen M.M. Naravane’s unpublished memoirs.