The political row triggered by Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury’s remark about “those who bite being inside Parliament” escalated further on Tuesday, as Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi added his own tongue-in-cheek comment to the controversy.

While interacting with journalists in the Parliament complex, Gandhi responded with humour when asked about the uproar over Chowdhury arriving at the gates with a rescued dog.
“Seems like the dog has become the headline today,” he said.

“What was the poor animal’s fault? Did it enter the premises? And even if it did, is it actually barred?” he asked.

When a reporter suggested that pets aren’t permitted even though the rule book doesn’t explicitly mention it, Gandhi gestured toward the building and joked, “But plenty of them are inside,” prompting laughter among those present.

BJP Hits Back

The BJP seized upon Gandhi’s quip, accusing him of disrespecting Members of Parliament.
Party spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Rahul Gandhi and Renuka Chowdhury have lowered the dignity of Parliament. Both the ‘Rs’ need to remember there is another ‘R’—the responsibility of an MP.”

Patra insisted that even if Gandhi did not name anyone, his comment implied that all MPs—and even workers inside the complex—were being likened to animals. “People can see through this,” he said, urging Gandhi to “reflect at home” on whether such remarks were appropriate for a national leader.

Another BJP spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari, escalated the criticism online, claiming Gandhi had effectively “compared MPs to dogs”.
“This is how dynasts view the temple of democracy,” he said in a post on X.

What Sparked the Controversy

On Monday, Renuka Chowdhury arrived at Parliament with a stray dog she had rescued, triggering objections from some MPs. In response, she retorted, “Those inside bite, dogs don't,” a comment that ignited the political sparring now underway.