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.

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According to Singh, Rahul Gandhi told him the protest would be withdrawn if the government agreed to hold a discussion in Parliament on the NEET examination controversy, alleged paper leaks and the protests linked to the issue.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 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."

The Congress has not yet responded to the minister's version of the conversation.