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Renuka Chowdhury faces a breach of privilege notice for bringing a stray dog to Parliament and making remarks against MPs.
Renuka Chowdhury brought a dog, which she claimed to be a stray, on Parliament premises. (PTI/File image)
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury has been served a notice for breach of privilege for bringing a stray dog into the Parliament complex in her car and for allegedly making derogatory remarks against MPs during the Winter Session of the Parliament in December 2025.
The Committee of Privileges of the Rajya Sabha has taken up a complaint against Chowdhury and has asked her to respond to the charges by February 23, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.
The Congress MP stirred a major row by bringing a rescued stray in her car to Parliament on December 1 during the Winter session. 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?”
As per the news agency, BJP MPs Brij Lal and Indu Bala Goswami submitted a notice for breach of privilege against Chowdhury, which the Rajya Sabha chairman forwarded to the Committee of Privileges.
The committee examined the matter in its meeting held last week and decided to seek her written comments on the matter.
The two BJP MPs moved a complaint against Chowdhury under rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States for allegedly making contemptuous and defamatory statements against members of Parliament.
In their notice, the complainant MPs said that Chowdhury allegedly said that “those who bite are sitting inside the Parliament”, which, they claimed, denigrates the respect of elected representatives and MPs of both Houses of Parliament.
They had also pleaded with the chairman to take strict action against the Congress MP to protect the dignity and respect of MPs, while also accusing her of violating security protocols by bringing a stray dog inside the Parliament complex.
When asked about the notice, sources in Chowdhury’s office said they will respond under the Parliamentary rules, norms, conventions and procedures, upholding all democratic principles enshrined in the Constitution of India.
What’s The Row?
Chowdhury had brought a rescued stray in her car on December 1. This triggered a row, prompting some BJP members to accuse her of indulging in drama and demand action against her.
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.
The Congress MP had also claimed that the government dislikes animals and questioned the objections raised by the ruling party MPs, saying there was no law against rescuing a stray dog.
Chowdhury is a self-confessed dog lover with a few pets at home. She claimed that on her way to Parliament, she rescued a stray and her driver was supposed to take the canine to a veterinarian.
Later, when some reporters had asked her to comment on the privilege motion being contemplated against her by some ruling party MPs, she gave a snappy reply – “bhow bhow…what else should I say.”
(With inputs from agencies)
February 15, 2026, 20:30 IST
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