Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh reversed his earlier praise for the BJP and RSS following a political dispute that arose over his comments. Singh clarified that he supports the organization but opposes the RSS and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He emphasized that while he admires the organizational strength of the RSS, he has consistently criticized the policies of the BJP and the RSS.
The clarification came after Singh shared a 1996 photograph of Prime Minister Modi with senior BJP leader L.K. Advani. In the post, Singh commended the BJP and RSS for elevating grassroots workers to top leadership roles, citing PM Modi’s progression from an organizational position to Chief Minister and Prime Minister. Singh explained that the image, found on Quora, exemplifies the organizational prowess of the RSS and the Jan Sangh.
The post triggered strong reactions in political circles, particularly during a Congress Working Committee meeting in Delhi. Singh’s act of tagging senior Congress leaders in the post led to speculation about a potential internal message to the party leadership. The photograph captures PM Modi’s early political journey in Gujarat during the 1996 swearing-in ceremony of former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela, showing Advani seated in a chair while PM Modi, then an organizational leader, sits on the floor nearby.
In response to the controversy, Congress MP Kumari Selja refuted claims of Singh praising the BJP or RSS. She emphasized that no such praise occurred and urged against spreading misinformation. Selja assured that any discussions held in the meeting would be officially communicated. This incident follows Singh’s previous controversial statement on December 19, where he called for reforms within the Congress, advocating for a more decentralized and practical party structure.
Seizing on the opportunity, BJP spokesperson C.R. Kesavan called on Rahul Gandhi to address the revelations brought forth by Digvijaya Singh’s tweet. Kesavan highlighted the tweet’s implications regarding the Congress’s internal functioning, urging Rahul Gandhi to respond to the allegations of dictatorial and undemocratic practices within the party.
