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The incident was first sparked when Congress Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chowdhury arrived at the Parliament complex with a small puppy
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament building on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi stated that while pets are ‘not allowed here’, they are definitely ‘allowed inside’, pointing towards the hallowed legislature building. File pic/PTI
The controversy ignited by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury bringing a rescued stray dog into the Parliament complex premises on the opening day of the winter session has escalated, with Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi injecting a political quip into the highly charged debate. Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament building on Tuesday, Gandhi seemingly defended his party colleague while taking a thinly veiled swipe at the ruling dispensation, stating that while pets are “not allowed here”, they are definitely “allowed inside”, pointing towards the hallowed legislature building.
The incident was first sparked when Rajya Sabha member Renuka Chowdhury arrived at the Parliament complex with a small puppy she claimed to have rescued moments earlier from a roadside accident. The sight of the canine within the high-security premises immediately drew objections from fellow MPs, particularly from the ruling benches, who alleged a breach of parliamentary protocol and decorum. Chowdhury, a self-confessed dog lover, defended her action by stating that the dog was small, harmless, and was simply waiting in her car to be taken to a veterinarian.
However, she added fuel to the fire by immediately politicising the incident, quipping to the media, “The real ones who bite are sitting in Parliament. They run the government.” This highly controversial statement quickly became the focus of a political spat, with BJP spokespersons condemning her remarks as a gross insult to the dignity of the House and all Members of Parliament, including those from her own party.
Rahul Gandhi’s subsequent remarks further amplified the political fallout. When questioned about the row, he mockingly remarked, “Dog is the main topic of today, I believe. What has the poor dog done? Why is it not allowed?” When informed that pets are prohibited in the complex, he pointed towards the building and said, “Pets are not allowed here, but they are allowed inside”.
The BJP reacted swiftly to Gandhi’s comment. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra criticised both Congress leaders, stating that they had not only hurt the decorum of Parliament but had also insulted all MPs, security personnel, and staff. He urged the Congress leaders to remember the “third R”—responsibility of an MP—and accused them of trivialising the sanctity of the temple of democracy.
The entire episode dominated early political exchanges during a Parliament session already anticipated to be contentious, shifting the focus from legislative business to a row over parliamentary conduct and pointed animal metaphors.
About the Author
Pathikrit Sen Gupta is a Senior Associate Editor with News18.com and likes to cut a long story short. He writes sporadically on Politics, Sports, Global Affairs, Space, Entertainment, And Food. He tra…Read More
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