India, Dec. 2 -- A light-hearted remark by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reignited a controversy triggered a day earlier by Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury, who had arrived at Parliament with a rescued stray dog.

Responding to the uproar surrounding Chowdhury's comment that "those who bite are inside Parliament", Gandhi joked that pets were allowed in the complex, adding fresh political fuel to the debate.

Journalists pointed out that the rule book does not expressly mention pets but they are generally not permitted. Gandhi's remark, referencing his well-known fondness for his late pet 'Pidi', quickly drew a sharp response from the BJP.

Another BJP spokesperson, Pradeep Bhandari, accused Gandhi of comparing MPs to d...