‘Childish, unparliamentary’: BJP sharpens attack on Rahul Gandhi, Oppn hits back

New Delhi: The BJP escalated its criticism of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, slamming his “childish” and “unparliamentary” conduct during the Budget Session, including calling Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu a “traitor.” The Opposition fired back, accusing the ruling party of injecting religion into the feud for political gain.

The row intensified after Gandhi repeatedly pressed the Ladakh standoff issue in the Lok Sabha, referencing a magazine article tied to former Army Chief Gen M.M. Naravane’s (Retd.) unpublished book. Tensions boiled over Wednesday when Gandhi labeled Bittu a “traitor friend” on Parliament premises, drawing fierce backlash from BJP and allies.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh told reporters it was “regrettable” that a “child’s stubbornness” had stalled the House, predicting Gandhi’s name would be “written in black letters.” BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana called the language an insult to communities that have defended India, stressing a Leader of Opposition must avoid such terms. JD(U) spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad deemed “traitor” unfit for parliamentary discourse, blaming Gandhi’s “childish actions” for Congress’s woes.

Congress leader Pawan Kumar Bansal defended Gandhi, questioning how religion entered the picture and accusing BJP of habitual communalization while ignoring Sikhs’ concerns to cling to power. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi dismissed BJP’s community angle as “ridiculous,” saying the bitter exchange mirrored Lok Sabha’s discord—rigid stances with no dialogue—and that both sides used inappropriate words, though BJP sought political mileage.

(Inputs from IANS)