UP: A video of a sharp exchange between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and UP Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh during a DISHA committee meeting in Raebareli has gone viral on social media.
The incident occurred during a DISHA meeting at the Collectorate auditorium, where Gandhi, as committee chairman, insisted all discussions should be conducted with his consultation. Singh countered by stating that since Gandhi doesn't follow the Speaker's directions in Parliament, he isn't bound to listen to Gandhi's instructions either.
Earlier, when Gandhi commenced his visit to Rae Bareli, Singh along with his supporters organised a demonstration against the Congress parliamentarian regarding the recent controversy involving derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother. Singh stated, "Rahul Gandhi remained silent on the issue of disrespectful comments made about PM Modi's mother in Bihar. Gandhi should offer an apology and denounce the party workers who made such offensive remarks about the Prime Minister's mother, and they should be removed from the party."
The meeting was attended by Amethi MP KL Sharma and several public representatives, although Unchahar MLA Manoj Kumar Pandey was notably absent.
Speaking to News18 later, Singh explained that Gandhi wanted to conduct the meeting outside DISHA guidelines, which he opposed. "We don't need to accept wrong statements," Singh said, adding that Gandhi comes with a team and three-page drafts.
The tension was briefly diffused during tea service, when Gandhi offered Singh extra tea and biscuits after the minister jokingly referenced DISHA guidelines about tea service.
Singh, a former Congress member who joined the BJP in 2018, has twice contested unsuccessfully against the Gandhi family from the Raebareli constituency.
