Rahul calls Bittu 'traitor', Union minister retorts with 'desh ke dushman' jibe
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday exchanged barbs with former party colleague and union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu in Parliament premises.
In videos released by the Congress, Gandhi was heard calling Bittu "a traitor" and the minister retorting with "desh ke dushman" (enemy of the nation) jibe.
The incident took place right outside Parliament's Makar Dwar, the main entrance which MPs take to enter the new Parliament building, where Gandhi was standing in solidarity with suspended Congress MPs, mostly from Punjab.
As soon as he was about to speak, Bittu passed by, and remarked, "they (suspended Congress MPs are sitting here as if they have won a war".
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Gandhi hit back, "The thing is, here is a traitor walking right by. Take a look at the face. How he looks."
Gandhi then extended his hand towards Bittu for a handshake, and said, "Hello brother, my traitor friend".
"Don't worry, you will come back (to the Congress)", Gandhi added addressing the Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing.
Bittu, however, declined to shake hands with Gandhi and, while pointing to him, said, "desh ke dushman."
The union minister was seen in the videos springing past the Makar Dwar stairs, repeating his "desh ke dushman" charge while pointing at the Congress leaders and suspended MPs, who continued to jeer at him.
They were also heard saying, "surrender, surrender".
Bittu, the grandson of late Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, was a former MP of the Congress from Ludhiana and Anandpur Sahib before he switched sides to the BJP ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
#WATCH | Delhi: As Union MoS Ravneet Singh Bittu passes by the protesting Congress MPs at Makar Dwar, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face..."
— ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2026
LoP Rahul Gandhi offered to shake his hands, saying, "Hello brother, my traitor… pic.twitter.com/5wMgjM8KAW
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State Contractors’ Association suspends two office-bearers under graft charge
Bengaluru: Honorary President of the State Contractors’ Association Jagannath B Shegaji and Organizing Secretary Hanamanth Rayappa Chinchali have been suspended from the Association following allegations that the duo had demanded 3 per cent commission to undertake the process of contractors’ bid.
The Association is reported to have taken the decision after audio and video clips on their discussions with contractors regarding taking commission were leaked on Tuesday morning and are being circulated by media houses. Following the developments, the Association members called an urgent meeting on Tuesday morning and passed an order to suspend Shegaji and Chinchali with immediate effect.
In addition, Shegaji and Chinchali are deprived of their positions in the Association on temporary basis under charges of defaming the Association.
President of the Association R Manjunath has said that the decision was taken after collecting the opinions of all 32 members of the administrative board of the Association.
Manjunath said that, at a time when the Association was fighting for release of the money that the government owes to contractors, it was shocking that members of the Association are facing such allegations. He added that the Association members, who would always fight to protect the interests of the Association's contractors, would not tolerate such behavior.
A panel of six senior members has been formed to investigate the matter.
