Tempers flared inside the Parliament complex on Wednesday when Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu exchanged sharp and personal barbs, turning a routine protest into a high-voltage political confrontation.

The dramatic face-off unfolded near Makar Dwar as Congress MPs were staging a protest over the India-US trade deal. As Bittu walked past the protesting lawmakers, Rahul Gandhi launched a direct verbal attack, openly calling the minister a “traitor” and drawing attention from MPs, security personnel, and onlookers.

Pointing towards Bittu, Rahul Gandhi remarked, “Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face.” In a sarcastic gesture, he even extended his hand and added, “Hello brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back.”

The remarks immediately provoked a strong response. Ravneet Singh Bittu refused to shake hands and shot back sharply, calling Rahul Gandhi and his party “desh ke dushman” (enemies of the nation). Bittu made it clear that he does not engage with people whom he believes act against national interests.

The verbal duel continued for a few moments, with both leaders exchanging heated words before moving away in different directions. Security officials quickly stepped in to prevent the situation from escalating further.

The confrontation came against the backdrop of sustained protests by Congress MPs inside the Parliament premises. Lawmakers were seen holding placards reading “PM is compromised”, targeting the government over the India-US trade agreement. Rahul Gandhi had earlier alleged that the deal weakened India’s position and compromised national interests.

Tensions in Parliament have remained high since earlier this week. On Tuesday, eight Opposition MPs — seven from the Congress and one from the CPI(M) — were suspended for the remainder of the Budget Session for what the government described as unruly conduct. The suspended MPs later staged protests within the Parliament complex.

The ongoing deadlock in the House was triggered after Rahul Gandhi was stopped from quoting an article that referred to an unpublished “memoir” of former Army chief General M.M. Naravane related to the 2020 India-China border standoff. The incident has since snowballed into a wider political clash between the Opposition and the ruling coalition.