New Delhi, Feb 4 —A Congress protest outside Parliament on Wednesday accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being “compromised” erupted into a heated exchange between Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu.
As Bittu walked past the demonstrators, Gandhi pointed at him and said, “My traitor friend, you will come back,” while extending his hand.
Bittu refused to shake hands and shot back, accusing Gandhi of acting against national interests. “You are against the country,” he told Gandhi during the brief verbal spat.
The Congress MPs were holding placards reading “PM is compromised,” repeating allegations Gandhi had made a day earlier to the media over the India–US trade agreement.
The confrontation unfolded amid rising tensions in Parliament, a day after eight opposition MPs were suspended for the remainder of the session.
Those suspended include Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Hibi Eden, Dean Kuriakose, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, B Manickam Tagore, Dr Prashant Yadaorao Padole, Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy and S Venkatesan.