New Delhi – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has strongly condemned Rahul Gandhi's "traitor" jibe directed at Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu, alleging an "anti-Sikh mindset" within the Congress party. The controversy erupted after Gandhi referred to Bittu as a "traitor friend" during a verbal exchange in the Parliament complex on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.
The incident occurred as Congress MPs were staging a protest. Gandhi, encountering Bittu, a former Congress MP who switched to the BJP ahead of the 2024 elections, remarked, "Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face," before offering a handshake, saying, "Hello, brother. My traitor friend. Don't worry, you will come back (to Congress)". Bittu refused the handshake and retorted by calling Gandhi "desh ke dushman" (enemy of the nation).
Prime Minister Modi, reacting to the incident, asserted that such comments were an insult to the entire Sikh community and to the Guru Sahiban. He questioned how the Congress could make such remarks against those who had left the party. While not directly naming Bittu, Modi stated he could not tolerate any Indian citizen being labeled a "traitor".
The BJP has seized upon Gandhi's remark, alleging that the Congress is "anti-Sikh" for using such an adjective against Bittu. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri described Gandhi's words as "a slur on the entire Sikh community," particularly given Bittu's distinguished background and the sacrifices of his family. Puri also alluded to the "desecration of the Golden Temple in 1984," suggesting a continuation of a similar mindset.
Bittu himself has a significant history with the Congress, having been brought into active politics by Rahul Gandhi two decades ago. He is the grandson of Beant Singh, a Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister of Punjab who was assassinated by Khalistani militants in 1995. Bittu served as a three-time Congress Lok Sabha MP, representing Anandpur Sahib and Ludhiana.
Following the exchange with Gandhi, Bittu criticized the Gandhi family and referenced Operation Blue Star and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He stated that as a "sardar," he would never shake hands with "the scion of the Gandhi family, the murderer of Sikhs".
Congress leaders have defended Gandhi's statement, claiming that the "traitor" remark was directed at Bittu personally for defecting to the BJP and not intended as a slur against the Sikh community. Sukhpal Singh Khaira, a Congress MLA from Punjab, asserted that the BJP was misinterpreting the comment to portray it as an insult to Sikhs. However, BJP-led Sikh groups protested outside the Congress office following the incident.
The controversy highlights the complex political dynamics in Punjab and the ongoing tensions between the Congress and BJP, particularly concerning Sikh representation and historical events. The incident has sparked intense debate and further polarized the political landscape.