Those sitting inside bite: Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury on row over bringing rescued stray dog to Parliament

“Indoors bite, dogs don’t,” said Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury after arriving in Parliament with a rescued stray in her car on Monday, December 1, 2025, which sparked a controversy and led some members of the ruling party to accuse her of indulging in drama.

Ms Chowdhury said she picked up the stray animal earlier in the day and took it to a veterinarian. She also claimed that the government does not like animals and questioned the objections raised by the ruling party MPs, saying there was no law against rescuing a stray dog.

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“This government does not like animals. Animals have no voice. [dog] He was in the car, so what are his problems? Is it so small it looks like it could bite? “Those who sit in parliament bite, not dogs,” he told reporters when asked about the dog in his car.

“What law says I can’t rescue a dog?” he added.

A self-confessed dog lover, Ms. Chowdhury has several pets at home. Sources close to the MP said that his driver had to take the dog to a veterinarian after dropping him off at Parliament.

However, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal accused Ms Chowdhury of engaging in “tamasha” (theatre) and violating protocol by bringing a dog into Parliament. He argued that members cannot bring anyone into the House without proper documents and demanded action against the Congress MP.

“You are not serious about discussing the issues… you are playing a joke on Parliament with such tamasha… He is a member of the House of Representatives and should raise issues of public importance instead of indulging in such dramas,” Mr. Pal said.

“He should be appointed by the Speaker of the Parliament,” Mr. Pal said, while calling for a lawsuit to be filed against him.

The BJP member said that dogs or animals cannot be brought into the Parliament building.