The Snub: Gandhi & Bittu’s Verbal War

New Delhi, February 4, 2026: The corridors of power witnessed a rare and fiery personal confrontation on Wednesday morning as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu engaged in a sharp verbal duel outside Parliament’s Makar Dwar. The exchange, marked by a high-profile “handshake snub” and bitter jibes, has further intensified the already polarized atmosphere of the ongoing Budget Session.

The Spark: A Protest and a Passing Remark

The incident unfolded while Rahul Gandhi was leading a protest with Congress MPs against the suspension of eight opposition members. As Ravneet Bittu—a former three-time Congress MP who defected to the BJP in 2024—walked past the group, he reportedly took a swipe at the protesters, remarking, “They are sitting as if they have won a war.”

The comment immediately drew a sharp retort from Gandhi. Pointing toward the Union Minister of State for Railways, Gandhi told the surrounding cameras and colleagues, “Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face.”

The Handshake Snub

In a moment of heavy sarcasm, Gandhi extended his hand toward his former party colleague, saying:

“Hello brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back [to Congress].”

Bittu, however, refused the gesture. Rejecting the handshake, he hit back with a stinging counter-accusation, calling Gandhi and the protesting MPs “Desh ke dushman” (enemies of the nation). The exchange briefly escalated as both leaders stood ground, with other Congress members joining in with slogans like “Narendra Surrender” before the two were separated by colleagues and security personnel.

Escalating Rhetoric: “Sadak Ka Gunda”

The battle of words didn’t end on the Parliament steps. Speaking to reporters later, Ravneet Bittu escalated his attack, describing Gandhi’s behavior as that of a “Sadak ka gunda” (street thug). Bittu alleged that Gandhi attempted to manhandle him during the encounter and invoked the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to target the Gandhi family.

“I have the Guru’s turban on my head. How can I bow before you?” Bittu stated, explaining his refusal to shake hands. He accused the Congress of “setting Punjab on fire” in the past and claimed Gandhi’s personal anger stemmed from Bittu’s decision to join the BJP.

Context of the Conflict

The confrontation comes amid a week of high-voltage drama in the Lok Sabha:

• Suspensions: Eight opposition MPs were recently suspended for “unruly conduct” and throwing papers at the Chair.
• The Memoir Row: Rahul Gandhi has been locked in a battle with the government over references to an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, alleging the Prime Minister “compromised” national security during the 2020 China standoff.

The BJP has rallied behind Bittu, with leaders like Manjinder Singh Sirsa condemning Gandhi’s “traitor” jibe as an insult to the Sikh community. Meanwhile, Congress supporters have defended Gandhi’s “traitor friend” remark as a pointed reminder of Bittu’s political defection.