NEW DELHI, FEB 4: Tensions between the Treasury and Opposition benches spilled over onto the Parliament premises Wednesday as Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and Rahul Gandhi engaged in a heated argument. The exchange was triggered during a Congress-led protest where members held placards criticizing the Prime Minister’s stance on trade.
Witnesses noted that the friction began when Gandhi signaled toward Bittu and used the term “traitor friend” to describe the former Congress member. When the Leader of Opposition offered a handshake accompanied by a sarcastic comment about Bittu’s eventual return to his old party, the Minister declined the gesture and countered with sharp accusations.
“My traitor friend, you will come back,” Gandhi directly said to the Minister during the encounter.
The Union Minister responded by labeling the Congress leader’s actions as being contrary to the country’s welfare. The confrontation added to the friction in the Lok Sabha, which recently saw the suspension of several opposition figures, including Hibi Eden and B Manickam Tagore.
The demonstration was part of a broader push by the Congress party to highlight their grievances regarding the India-US trade agreement. Despite the brief verbal clash, the protest continued with members reiterating their claims against the central leadership.
