Rahul Gandhi, UP minister trade barbs over protocol, purview during meeting

It was Singh who, a day before, staged a sit-in before Gandhi’s cavalcade in Raebareli over an alleged abusive remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother by a man during a rally in Bihar. Also, Unchahar MLA Manoj Kumar Pandey, who was earlier expelled from the Samajwadi Party over alleged anti-party activities, walked out of Thursday’s DISHA meeting over the same issue.

In the DISHA meeting, Gandhi is seen telling the Minister Singh, who was sitting next to him, “If you have something to say, ask first. Then you will be given a chance to speak”.

Amethi MP KL Sharma is also seen entering into an argument with Singh who objects to the issues being raised claiming they did not come under the purview of the meeting.

But when Gandhi points out it was he who was the committee chairman, Singh is heard saying since he (Gandhi) does not listen to the Lok Sabha Speaker he too was not bound to listen to the Congress MP who was on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency on September 10 and 11.

The confrontation started when the minister started directing officials present in the meeting, ignoring Gandhi, it is learnt.

DISHA committees are formed under the state Rural Development Department for monitoring development projects with the senior-most MP from the district as its chairperson, other MPs, MLAs, MLCs and zila panchayat chairperson as members and the district magistrate as secretary.

As per the rule, the committee holds a meeting once in four months.

Sources said Singh, while addressing a district project officer, pointed out that the work being discussed did not come under the purview of the meeting. On this, the minister was informed that he should address the chair (i.e. chairperson) of the committee rather than officials. Then Singh said he was not bound to listen to Gandhi as committee chairman since he also did not listen to the Lok Sabha Speaker.

“For the first time we saw such a confrontation by a minister in the DISHA meeting against all ethics. Officials are also under pressure as the minister was speaking in such a manner. We will look into the issue. The proceedings of the meeting were recorded,” said Amethi MP KL Sharma.

Rejecting the charges, minister Dinesh Singh, who had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against Gandhi from Raebareli but lost, on Friday said, “The DISHA committee chairperson works as per the guidelines of the Rural Development Ministry. It is not that Rahul Gandhi comes to this meeting to give something new to Raebareli. His task is to see the implementation of about 43 projects of the Centre and the state government related to rural development.”

“I objected to the proceedings because he was under some misconception and was taking up issues which do not fall under the purview of the DISHA committee. As a member, it was my responsibility to ensure that proceedings took place under the set norms,” he added.