Rahul Gandhi shifted goalpost after Centre agreed to talks: Jitendra Singh
Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of changing his demands midway through negotiations during the Congress protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, alleging that the Leader of the Opposition backed away from his original stand after the Centre agreed to a discussion in Parliament on the NEET controversy.
The remarks came hours after Singh held a brief conversation with Rahul Gandhi at the protest site.
Congress leaders later described the talks as inconclusive, saying their demands had not been met.
— Congress (@INCIndia) July 21, 2026
Government accepted initial demand: Singh
In a post on X, Jitendra Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, said he and Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan were deputed by the government to engage with the Congress leadership, as the demonstration was being led by senior leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
According to Singh, Rahul Gandhi told him the protest would be withdrawn if the government agreed to hold a discussion in Parliament on the NEET examination controversy, alleged paper leaks and the protests linked to the issue.
Singh said he immediately conveyed the demand to the government's top leadership and returned with an assurance that the Centre was ready for a parliamentary debate on all issues related to NEET and the associated protests.
'Rahul Gandhi changed his demands'
The minister alleged that after the government accepted the proposal, Rahul Gandhi introduced a fresh condition by insisting on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
According to Singh, Gandhi told him that both demands — a parliamentary discussion and the education minister's resignation — would now have to be met.
"When he was reminded that earlier he had only sought a discussion, he said his demands had now changed," Singh claimed.
"It was learnt that Congress Party National President Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other had suddenly started a protest. It was also reported that the place was not very conducive to a sit-in protest. It was causing… pic.twitter.com/8EVA200wNj
— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) July 21, 2026
'It is my prerogative'
Jitendra Singh further alleged that when he urged Rahul Gandhi not to change his stand so quickly, the Congress leader replied that "it is my prerogative."
The minister also said Home Secretary Govind Mohan advised Gandhi that the area outside the Prime Minister's residence was not an appropriate venue for a sit-in protest.
According to Singh, Rahul Gandhi responded that it was "his prerogative to sit wherever he wants."
मोदी जी, हर ज़ोर आज़मा लो, सारी ताकत लगा लो - छात्रों के इंसाफ की ये लड़ाई अब रोके न रुकेगी। pic.twitter.com/suXh8LkWzh
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 21, 2026
The Congress has not yet responded to the minister's version of the conversation.
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