Amritsar, Feb. 8 -- Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Saturday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for hurling a "traitor" barb at him, and alleged he was close to getting into a physical confrontation with him outside the Parliament.

The Union minister of state for railways and food processing industries also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leaders for standing by him.

While Bittu was entering the Parliament on Wednesday morning, Gandhi called him a "traitor" as the minister retorted with "desh ke dushman" (enemy of the country) jibe.

The incident took place right outside Parliament's Makar Dwar, the main entrance which MPs take to enter the new Parliament building, where Gandhi was standing in solidarity with sus...