Sat Sep 13 05:56:33 UTC 2025: ## Heated Exchange Erupts at Raebareli Development Meeting

**Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh – September 13, 2025:** A high-level review meeting of Central government schemes in Raebareli descended into a contentious dispute on September 11th, between Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh, leading to a video of the incident going viral on social media.

The clash occurred during a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting. Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma, the DISHA co-chairperson, explained that the altercation began when Minister Singh directly questioned officials without seeking permission from the chair, a breach of parliamentary etiquette. Sharma stated that he reminded Singh of the required procedure, similar to addressing the Speaker in the Lok Sabha.

The incident sparked a flurry of reactions. Sharma urged the Chief Minister to address Singh’s conduct, emphasizing the importance of cabinet discipline. Singh, the Minister of State for Horticulture, responded with a social media post regarding a photograph of Mr. Gandhi shaking hands with his son, a local block chief, claiming Congress supporters circulated the image to troll him and adding his son should have touched Mr. Gandhi’s feet as a mark of respect.

The meeting was further marred by a boycott from expelled Samajwadi Party MLA Manoj Kumar Pandey, due to his proposal being denied. In addition, a local block head, Shivani Singh, chose to abstain from the meeting after her vehicle was allegedly denied entry to the Collectorate premises.

BJP MLA Aditi Singh, emphasized that such spats were inappropriate for a development-focused forum. She urged all parties to prioritize developmental issues and adhere to protocol, stating, “When you have such development-oriented meetings, it is best to stick to protocol and respectfully deal with issues related to the public.”

Dinesh Pratap Singh himself had previously staged a demonstration against Mr. Gandhi, alongside BJP workers, demanding an apology for alleged remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother.

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