'Those who bite are inside': Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury sparks row with a puppy in Parliament

The real controversy erupted when the Rajya Sabha MP compared the animal to lawmakers inside the House, remarking that “those who bite are inside the Parliament” — a comment the BJP said insulted MPs and the institution itself.

Chowdhury came to attend the Winter Session with the puppy in tow, though she soon sent it back home in her car.

Her unusual arrival prompted questions about parliamentary protocol.

Unfazed by the criticism, the Congress leader defended her actions, explaining that she had rescued the puppy moments earlier.

“What protocol? Is there any law? I saw the puppy near an accident site on my way here. Fearing it would be run over, I picked it up and brought it along. Then I sent it home,” she told reporters, questioning why anyone would object to saving an animal’s life.

However, she quickly shifted her focus to the government, saying, “Those who bite are sitting inside Parliament and running the government. Is there no issue with that? Yet if I rescue an animal, it becomes a controversy.”

Chowdhury also noted that she has adopted several stray dogs in the past.

The BJP was quick to respond, calling the episode a staged “drama” and accusing her of disrespecting Parliament.

Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala alleged that Chowdhury had effectively likened MPs and parliamentary staff to dogs.

“Renuka Chowdhury has insulted Parliament and its members. She brings a dog to Parliament and then says those who bite are inside — implying MPs, staff, everyone. This is not the first time; she has previously mocked Operation Mahadev and Operation Sindoor,” Poonawala said.

Echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments earlier in the day, he argued that the incident reflected the Congress’s preference for theatrics over constructive debate.

“The Congress doesn’t want discussion or dialogue. They want disruption, drama, confrontation. They don’t want policy, they want sloganeering,” he said.

Calling the incident the “true face” of the Congress, Poonawala accused the party of undermining constitutional institutions and prioritising family interests over national ones.

“This is a huge insult to Ambedkar’s Constitution. Renuka Chowdhury and the Congress should apologise,” he added.

The episode has become the latest flashpoint in escalating tensions between the BJP and the Congress, who later clashed inside Parliament over issues ranging from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise to pollution.