Last Updated:December 01, 2025, 13:45 IST

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury brought her pet dog into Parliament, defending it as harmless, sparking criticism from the BJP.

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury on Monday brought a dog to the Parliament, sparking sharp reactions from BJP members. The episode came as the Winter Session began, amid a day marked by Opposition protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Chowdhury, when questioned about the presence of the animal, defended her actions, stating, “The government doesn’t like animals. What’s the harm if a small, harmless animal comes inside?”

“It is not aggressive,” she said, insisting that the dog posed no threat and was merely accompanying her inside the vehicle.

However, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal reacted strongly, saying, “Renuka Chowdhury brought a dog into Parliament. Action should be taken against her.”

“Having certain parliamentary privileges does not mean they can be misused,” she said.

Later, in a self-recorded video, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Ponawalla demanded an apology from Renuka Chowdhury.

“The Congress party has made it amply clear that they don’t want dialogue or discussion in the Parliament, they want disruption. They don’t want delivery in Parliament. They want drama, they don’t want Niti in Parliament, they want narebazi (sloganeering),” he said.

“They don’t want consensus in Parliament. They want confrontation. Renuka Chowdhury has insulted the Parliament and the MPs,” he said.

“She (Chowdhury) brings a dog to the Parliament, and when asked about it, she says that those who bite are inside. That means the Parliament, Parliamentary staff, MPs, they are the dogs in her opinion. She has, in the past, also insulted our jawans when she mocked Operation Mahadev and Operation Sindoor.”

“This is the true face of Renuka Chaudhary and the Congress Party. They have no respect for Sena, no respect for Samvidhanik Sanstha, for the Election Commission, for the judiciary, for Parliament. Rahul Gandhi, in fact, has said that I want to fight the Indian state,” he said.

“So this is their true agenda. They want to put parivar-hit above rashtra-hit, and therefore, they find new ways of doing drama and theatrics within Parliament. This is a very big insult to Ambedkar ji’s constitution. Renuka Chaudhary and the Congress should apologise,” Ponawalla said.

Meanwhile, sources with the Parliament security said it was not a breach of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

“It was not a breach of the SOP, which is to ensure that no one who is unauthorised gets out of the car,” they said.

The Lok Sabha, already tense, had been adjourned till 12 noon following protests by Opposition parties demanding a discussion on the SIR of electoral rolls.

After paying tributes to five departed former members and congratulating the women’s cricket team and other sports achievers, the Opposition launched protests pressing for a debate on their key demand.

Speaker Om Birla addressed the House, emphasising the importance of decorum and discussion.

“In a democracy, it is natural to have differences. But this can be resolved through discussions. We are the biggest democracy. This is not a place for sloganeering and showing placards,” he said.

Birla also urged members to actively participate in debates and stressed the significance of the Question Hour.

“We should set a good precedent. Let the House run. House is for debate and discussions,” he added.

Despite the Speaker’s appeal, Opposition members continued their protest, forcing the adjournment of proceedings.

The Lok Sabha witnessed disruption in its last session as well, when Opposition parties demanded debate on the SIR, making Monday’s session a continuation of ongoing tensions.

ALSO READ | ‘Defeat Shouldn’t Be The Grounds For Disruption’: PM Modi To Opposition Ahead Of Winter Session

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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