New Delhi: The Congress on Monday landed in an unexpected storm after party MP Renuka Chowdhury arrived at Parliament carrying a rescued puppy — and then delivered a barbed remark that triggered a fierce BJP backlash.
Chowdhury, a Congress Rajya Sabha MP, briefly walked into the Winter Session with the pup, explaining that she had picked it up near an accident site to save it from being run over. “What protocol? Is there any law against saving a life?” she asked reporters. “I saw the puppy, feared it would die, so I brought it here and sent it home afterward.”
Those Who Bite Sit Inside: Row After Congress MP @RenukaCCongress Brings Dog To #Parliament!
https://t.co/QUtdb019C7#WinterSession #RenukaChowdhury pic.twitter.com/iCGEWENoQX— AISHVARYA JAIN (@aishvaryjain) December 1, 2025
But it was her next remark that ignited outrage:
“Those who bite are inside Parliament and running the government.”
The BJP slammed the comment as a direct insult to lawmakers and the dignity of Parliament. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala accused Chowdhury of theatrics and disrespect.
Parliament’s visitors’ galleries have been blessed by a rather special guest, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury’s pet dog 🐶 #ParliamentWinterSession pic.twitter.com/xl04bjyb3J
— Atishay Jain (@AtishayyJain96) December 1, 2025
“Renuka Chowdhury has insulted Parliament and its members. She brings a dog to Parliament and then says those who bite are inside — implying MPs and staff. This isn’t accidental, this is drama,” Poonawala said, adding that the incident reflected the Congress’s “penchant for disruption over productive debate.”
He further alleged that such behaviour “exposes the true face of the Congress,” which he accused of undermining institutions and favouring dynasty over democracy. “This is an insult to Ambedkar’s Constitution. The Congress should apologise,” he demanded.
Chowdhury remained unapologetic, asserting that she has adopted multiple strays before and criticizing the selective outrage: “If I rescue an animal, it’s a controversy — but those who metaphorically ‘bite’ inside Parliament go unquestioned.”
The puppy episode quickly snowballed into yet another flashpoint in the escalating BJP–Congress confrontation, adding one more layer of drama to a Winter Session already rife with clashes over the Special Intensive Revision exercise, pollution, and procedural disputes.
