Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury on Monday (December 1) courted a controversy after she brought a dog to the parliament and likened MPs inside the House to “those who bite”.
Chowdhury arrived for the Winter Session with a rescued stray puppy in tow, an unexpected sight that instantly set off conversations about parliamentary propriety. While she later sent the dog back in her car, the brief appearance was enough to trigger a storm.
Undettered by the criticism, the Congress leader claimed she brought the stray from an accident site. “Is there any law that says a member cannot bring a dog? I found the puppy near an accident site and feared it would be run over. So I picked it up,” she told reporters, questioning why anyone would object to “saving an animal’s life.”
But what truly ignited tempers was her follow-up jab: “Those who bite are inside the Parliament and running the government.” The BJP slammed the remark as an attack on MPs and the dignity of the institution.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Chowdhury of habitual disrespect, claiming she had equated parliamentarians and staff with dogs. “She has insulted Parliament. This is the same MP who mocked Operation Mahadev and Operation Sindoor. Her comments once again expose the Congress’s mindset,” he said.
Echoing Prime Minister Modi’s criticism of Opposition conduct earlier in the day, Poonawalla alleged that the episode showed the Congress preferred “drama over dialogue.”
“Congress doesn’t want debate or policy. They want disruption, confrontation, and theatrics. This is their true agenda, placing family interest above national interest,” he added, demanding an apology.
The row added to an already tense day in Parliament, where the two parties later clashed over issues ranging from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process to air pollution.
