Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday condemned Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, calling for an apology from Congress. Saini said, “The Congress DNA has answers to all this… They still haven’t apologized to the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Their behavior continues to reflect the same mindset as back then. Rahul Gandhi and the entire Congress must apologize.”

The controversy arose after Gandhi and Bittu exchanged words near the Makar Dwar of Parliament. Gandhi referred to Bittu, who had recently left Congress and joined the BJP, as a “traitor” and later said, “Hello, brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back.” Bittu refused to shake hands and responded by calling Gandhi a “Desh ke dushman.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also criticized Congress in the Rajya Sabha. Speaking during a debate, he called Gandhi’s “traitor” remark against Bittu an insult to the Sikh community and evidence of Congress’s arrogance. Modi questioned how a political shift could justify labeling someone anti-national, noting that branding Bittu a traitor simply for changing party affiliation was unacceptable. He added that such behavior would only deepen Congress’s decline, asserting that actions like these would “sink” the party further. The incident has reignited debates over Congress’s attitude toward dissenters and its handling of historical injustices, with leaders from both sides emphasizing accountability and respect for democratic norms.