Rahul Gandhi, UP minister engage in heated exchange during meeting in Raebareli
Raebareli (PTI): A high-level review meeting of key central schemes here saw a heated exchange between Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Uttar Pradesh Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh after the latter was told that members must seek the chair's permission before speaking.
A video of the exchange at the September 11 meeting went viral on social media on Friday.
The incident occurred during the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting held at the Collectorate's Bachat Bhawan. Amethi MP and DISHA co-chairperson Kishori Lal Sharma, several MLAs and block chiefs were also present at the meeting.
Sharma told PTI that the confrontation arose when Singh began directly questioning officials.
"In DISHA meetings, members must seek the chair's permission before speaking. I reminded him of this procedure, just as all questions in the Lok Sabha are addressed through the Speaker," Sharma said.
A minister should know parliamentary etiquette, he said, adding, "The chief minister should take note of such conduct. What message does it send about cabinet discipline?"
Meanwhile, Singh, the minister of state (independent charge) for horticulture, posted a lengthy statement on social media in response to a viral photograph of Gandhi shaking hands with his son, also a local block chief.
Singh alleged that Congress supporters circulated the image to troll him.
"My son should not have merely shaken hands but touched Rahul Gandhi's feet as a mark of respect since he is my age," he said.
The minister claimed that he stood up and greeted Gandhi, but "he did not shake hands with me".
Calling for "an end to the controversy", Singh wrote, "Let us move forward in 'apni apni disha' (our own directions)."
The DISHA meeting was boycotted by expelled Samajwadi Party MLA from Unchahar, Manoj Kumar Pandey, over one of his proposals being denied indulgence, while an upset Lalganj block head Shivani Singh chose to skip it after her vehicle was allegedly denied entry into the collectorate premises.
Singh, an MLC who hails from Raebareli and was formerly with the Congress, staged a demonstration against Gandhi, along with BJP workers, a day earlier, demanding an apology for allegedly derogatory remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother during a recent Congress rally in Bihar.
BJP MLA from Raebareli (Sadar), Aditi Singh, told PTI that such spats don't behove a forum dedicated to development works.
"All elected and nominated public representatives take part in these meetings. Now you have every other platform for politics, 365 days for politics. But when you have such development-oriented meetings, it is best to stick to protocol and respectfully deal with issues related to the public.
"Regardless of party lines, it is important to discuss points of development in your constituency or area of work," she said.
She said she would not comment on anyone's behaviour and underlined that all parties should focus on development issues.
"I don't like using such platforms for pushing agendas of politics, I prefer doing my work there," she added.
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Siddaramaiah, I will abide by Cong high command decision on leadership issue, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will abide by any decision takeb by the Congress high command on the leadership issue in the state.
Speaking to reporters after returning from Delhi, the Congress state president said, he has full faith in the party leadership and that it would take an approapriate decision at the appropriate time.
The remarks comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, when the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in the Karnataka are announced.
"I will not speak about political issues before the media. I have already said that when the time comes you will get to know. So I will not tell you," Shivakumar said in response to a question on discussions with the Congress high command during his Delhi visit over the last couple of days.
He asserted that there are no issues within the party, and whatever has been already decided will take place accordingly.
Responding to a question on senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi's reported statement about internal differences, the Deputy CM said, "nothing like that, they (high command) will do what they have to do at the appropriate time."
"There are no issues, we have faith in our party, they will do what they have to," he added.
Asked about the issue of leadership change as the government is about to complete three years in office, Shivakumar said, "... I have never discussed this issue. The CM and I have both said that we will accept whatever and whenever the high command decides, and we will abide by it."
He declined to comment when asked whether any "good news" can be expected by his birthday on May 15.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
Responding to a question on the BJP's criticism against the Congress government over its decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes, alleging injustice to several communities and questioning its intent behind the revised quota formula, Shivakumar said the BJP could not do anything on internal reservation while in power, but the Congress has kept its promise.
"We have found a solution and tried to do justice to all sections among SCs. We have fulfilled the promise made and every one should go together," he said.
Shivakumar warned his party workers against erecting flex banners for his birthday on May 15.
"For May 15, I want to tell everyone that no one should put up flex banners or advertisements for my birthday. If flex are installed I will ensure that cases are registered by authorities against those responsible, whether they are party workers or followers....no one should put such things on roads, this is my personal request," he said, adding that he has asked commissioners of the city corporations to register cases and impose heavy fines.
