Union Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, who met Rahul Gandhi during the Congress protest at Lok Kalyana Marg, on Tuesday accused the Congress leader of going back on his word and said such behaviour is "unfortunate and contrary to every norm of democracy". In a post on X, Jitendra Singh said it came to light that Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, suddenly sat down for a sit-in protest at a location near Akbar Road with their supporters. Jitendra Singh said that in view of the dignity of the senior leaders, the government sent him along with the Union Home Secretary, Govind Mohan, to the spot to hold talks with them. He said a request was made to Rahul Gandhi to end his sit-in, as the site is not meant for protests, and holding a sit-in here was causing considerable inconvenience to the general public.
Singh said Rahul Gandhi put forward the demand that if the government agrees to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated agitation, 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," the Union Minister said. "When this information was conveyed to Shri Rahul Gandhi, he said that he would not agree to this alone but also sought assurance for the resignation of the Union Education Minister," he added. Singh stated that Rahul Gandhi then said now he has two demands - discussion in Parliament and the resignation of the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
"When he was reminded that earlier he had only demanded discussion, he said that now my 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.
"For a senior leader like Rahul Gandhi and the Leader of the Opposition to go back on his word is unfortunate and contrary to every norm of democracy. The government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement. In contrast, the Congress Party has not given any notice to date for a formal discussion on this serious matter as per rules. Shri Rahul Gandhi's behaviour does not align with the principles of democracy," he added.