Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Union Minister of State (MoS) for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu, exchanged jibes outside the Parliament on Wednesday, with Gandhi terming Bittu a “traitor”, and the latter retorting with “desh ka dushman” (enemy of the State).
The war of words started when BJP leader Bittu was passing by protesting MPs at the Makar Dwar of the Parliament, and commented on them saying: “They are sitting as if they won a war.”
To this, Gandhi replied: “Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face,” while offering to shake his hands, saying, “Hello, brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back (to Congress).”
Gandhi was alluding to Bittu quitting Congress party and switching to the BJP in 2024. On his part, Bittu, refused to shake hands with Gandhi, and called him “desh ke dushman (enemy of the state)”.
Earlier today, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon amid heavy sloganeering by Opposition members over the suspension of eight Opposition MPs a day earlier during the Budget Session, including Congress members Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Dean Kuriakose, as well as CPI(M) MP S Venkatesan.
The MPs were suspended for the remainder of the budget session for violating rules and “throwing papers on the chair” following an uproar in the House over Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on mentioning a specific reference to the 2020 standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.
Also Read: LS adjourned amid protest against MPs’ suspension
Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju, moved the motion for suspension of the eight members for the remainder of the budget session. The motion was adopted by the House amid protests from the opposition members.
On Wednesday, the suspended opposition MPs were seen protesting outside Parliament, holding posters reading: “PM is compromised”. LoP Rahul Gandhi had alleged the same while speaking to the media on the India-US trade agreement.
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