Parliament Winter Session Day 3: Privilege Motion Looms Against Renuka Chaudhary Over 'Barking Dogs' Remark
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha is likely to initiate a privilege motion against Congress MP Renuka Chaudhary on Wednesday, the third day of the Parliament's Winter Session, following her controversial remarks involving "dogs and barking". The remarks, made on Monday when Chaudhary arrived at Parliament with a rescued stray dog, have been widely interpreted as a dig at fellow members of the House, with many finding them derogatory and disrespectful to the dignity of Parliament.
The controversy erupted when Chaudhary, upon being questioned about bringing the dog to the Parliament premises, retorted, "Those sitting inside bite, dogs don't". She further claimed that the government doesn't like animals and questioned the objections raised, asking if there was any law against rescuing a stray dog. These statements sparked immediate backlash, particularly from members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who accused Chaudhary of insulting Parliament, its staff, and its members.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala was particularly critical, stating that Chaudhary's remarks implied that "the Parliament, Parliamentary staff, and the MPs...are dogs". He further accused her of having insulted Indian soldiers in the past. Another BJP MP, Jagdambika Pal, accused Chaudhary of staging a "tamasha" (theatrics) and violating parliamentary protocol by bringing the dog to Parliament. He insisted that members cannot bring anyone inside Parliament without proper documentation and demanded action against the Congress MP.
Chaudhary, however, defended her actions, stating that she had rescued the puppy on her way to Parliament, fearing it would be run over. She questioned whether there was any law prohibiting a member from bringing a dog and argued that she was simply saving an animal's life. She also turned her criticism towards the government, alleging that "those who bite are sitting inside Parliament and running the government".
The Upper House is currently examining the matter to determine if Chaudhary's remarks constitute a breach of parliamentary privilege and a violation of security norms. If the privilege motion is moved and subsequently adopted, Chaudhary could face a range of disciplinary actions, including censure or suspension from the House.
The incident has ignited a fierce political debate, with the BJP accusing the Congress of disrupting parliamentary proceedings and disrespecting democratic institutions. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale took a jibe at Chaudhary, saying, "You keep bringing 'kutta' (dog) here and we will continue to get 'satta' (power)".
Meanwhile, leaders of the INDIA bloc are scheduled to meet on Thursday to strategize their approach in Parliament. An all-party meeting has already reached a consensus to hold a full-day debate on Vande Mataram on Tuesday, followed by discussions on poll reforms on December 9.
