Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu exchanged sharp words outside Parliament on February 4, 2026, escalating tensions during the Budget Session. The confrontation took place near Makar Dwar, where suspended Opposition MPs were holding a protest.
As Rahul Gandhi walked past the protesting Congress MPs, he referred to Bittu as a “traitor.” His remark linked to Bittu’s decision to quit the Congress and join the BJP in 2024. Gandhi also offered a handshake while continuing the jibe, saying Bittu would “come back” to the Congress.
Bittu refused to shake hands and hit back strongly. He called Rahul Gandhi “Desh ke dushman,” meaning “enemy of the state.” The exchange intensified when Bittu commented on the protesting MPs, saying they were sitting “as if they won a war.”
The clash came amid high political drama in Parliament. Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon due to heavy sloganeering by Opposition members. The disruption followed the suspension of eight Opposition MPs a day earlier.
Outside Parliament, the suspended MPs held posters reading “PM is compromised.” Rahul Gandhi had repeated the same allegation while speaking to the media on the India–US trade agreement.
The suspended MPs include Congress leaders Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Dean Kuriakose. CPI(M) MP S Venkatesan was also suspended.
The House suspended the eight MPs for the remainder of the budget session for violating rules and allegedly throwing papers on the chair. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju moved the suspension motion, and the Lok Sabha adopted it amid protests.
