A video capturing a heated exchange between Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and Uttar Pradesh Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh during a District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting in Raebareli has gone viral on social media. The incident occurred on September 11, 2025, during Gandhi's two-day visit to his constituency.

According to reports, the argument began when Rahul Gandhi, who was chairing the meeting, interjected while Minister Singh was speaking. Gandhi asserted his authority as chairperson, stating that members must seek permission before speaking. He instructed Singh to "ask first, and then I will give you a chance to speak".

Dinesh Pratap Singh objected to this, arguing that while Gandhi was indeed the chairman, he was not obligated to agree with everything Gandhi said. Singh retorted that Gandhi himself does not listen to the Speaker in the Lok Sabha. This led to a heated debate between the two leaders, surprising officials and other representatives present. Amethi MP KL Sharma, also present at the meeting, joined in the exchange, supporting Gandhi.

Following the altercation, Singh spoke to ANI, clarifying that while the DISHA meeting had concluded, the chairperson is expected to supervise the rules and regulations issued by the Rural Development Ministry. He stated that Gandhi's role is limited to monitoring the 43 programs given by the Government of India and Uttar Pradesh and that the proceedings deviated from the meeting's scope, which he opposed.

Singh also accused Gandhi of not adhering to the DISHA guidelines and not ensuring their understanding by his party. He emphasized the importance of verifying the proper utilization of funds allocated for the 43 schemes.

The tension between Gandhi and Singh reportedly eased briefly during a tea break, during which Gandhi offered Singh extra tea and biscuits after Singh jokingly alluded to DISHA guidelines concerning tea service.

Dinesh Pratap Singh has a history of political opposition to the Gandhi family, having contested against Sonia Gandhi in the 2016 Lok Sabha elections in Raebareli. Prior to the DISHA meeting, Singh and his supporters staged a protest against Rahul Gandhi, demanding an apology for alleged derogatory remarks made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother during a Congress rally in Bihar.

Singh claimed that Congress supporters circulated a photo of Gandhi shaking hands with his son, a local block chief, to troll him. He stated that his son should have touched Gandhi's feet as a sign of respect, given their age difference and alleged that Gandhi did not shake hands with him. Singh called for an end to the controversy and suggested moving forward in "apni apni disha" (our own directions).

Expelled Samajwadi Party MLA from Unchahar, Manoj Kumar Pandey, boycotted the DISHA meeting because one of his proposals was allegedly denied. Lalganj block head Shivani Singh also chose to skip the meeting, claiming her vehicle was denied entry to the collectorate.

BJP MLA from Raebareli (Sadar), Aditi Singh, commented that such disputes are inappropriate for a forum dedicated to development work, emphasizing that there are ample other platforms for political discussions.