‘Govt accepted Rahul’s demand, but he backtracked’: Jitendra Singh on talks with Congress leader during protest outside PM House

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday accused Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, of backtracking from his words after the government assured him of a Parliament discussion on the NEET issue.

In a lengthy social media post, Singh said that he went to meet Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders to convince them to end their sit-in outside the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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“Rahul Gandhi put forward the demand that if the government agrees to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement, he would immediately end his sit-in. Within a few moments, after taking permission from the government’s top leadership, Shri Rahul Gandhi was assured that his demand has been accepted, and the government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement,” Singh said.

However, when Rahul was told that the government had agreed to his demand, he allegedly sought assurance for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

“He said that now I have two demands: discussion in Parliament and the resignation of the Union Education Minister,” Singh said.

According to Singh, when Rahul was reminded that earlier he had only demanded discussion, the Congress leader allegedly said that his demands have changed.

“When an attempt was made to humbly explain to him that for a senior leader like him to backtrack from his word so quickly does not befit him, he said that it is his prerogative. When the Home Secretary tried to explain that this site is not suitable for a sit-in, his response was that it is also his prerogative to sit wherever he wants,” Singh said.

The minister further asserted that for a Leader of the Opposition to go back on his word is unfortunate and contrary to every norm of democracy.

He reiterated that the government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement.

However, Singh added, the Congress Party has not given any notice to date for a formal discussion on this serious matter as per rules. “Rahul Gandhi’s behavior does not align with the principles of democracy,” he concluded.

Congress MPs, led by Rahul Gandhi, staged a sit-in outside PM Modi’s residence over alleged police brutality against student protesters during yesterday’s march to Parliament demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.

After the government’s efforts to convince the Congress leaders failed, police forcibly removed Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders.