Rahul Gandhi’s quip on ‘pets in Parliament’ rekindles dog Row, BJP slams ‘disrespect’

Responding to the uproar surrounding Chowdhury’s comment that “those who bite are inside Parliament”, Gandhi joked that pets were allowed in the complex, adding fresh political fuel to the debate.

“Dog is the main topic today, I believe,” Gandhi told reporters in Parliament. When asked whether pets were permitted inside the building, he quipped while gesturing toward the legislature, “But they are allowed inside,” prompting laughter among those present.

Journalists pointed out that the rule book does not expressly mention pets but they are generally not permitted. Gandhi’s remark, referencing his well-known fondness for his late pet ‘Pidi’, quickly drew a sharp response from the BJP.

Accusing the Congress MP of insulting elected representatives, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the “decorum and dignity of Parliament” had been compromised. “Both the ‘Rs’ need to remember the ‘R’ — the responsibility of an MP,” Patra said, urging Gandhi to reflect on whether such language suited his position.

Another BJP spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari, accused Gandhi of comparing MPs to dogs, claiming that the comments reflected a “dynastic” disregard for Parliament. “This is how Parivarvadi treat the temple of democracy,” he wrote on X.

The episode began on Monday, when some MPs objected to Renuka Chowdhury bringing a rescued stray dog into the Parliament complex in her car.

In response, she triggered a political storm by saying, “Those sitting inside bite, dogs don’t.”

Gandhi’s remark, intended as a tongue-in-cheek comment, has now become the latest flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP, adding an unexpected canine twist to the political discourse.