New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh found himself at the centre of a political controversy after praising the organisational strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). His remarks, shared through a social media post, triggered sharp reactions within political circles, prompting the veteran leader to issue a clarification.
The controversy erupted after Singh posted an old, undated black-and-white photograph on X showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani at a public event. In the post, Singh highlighted how disciplined grassroots organisation can elevate party workers to the highest positions of power.
The timing of the post was particularly sensitive, coming just ahead of an important Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting that finalised the party’s agitation strategy against the proposed scrapping of MGNREGA from January 5.
Post Seen as Indirect Message to Congress Leadership
In his social media message, Digvijaya Singh tagged several senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Political observers viewed this as an indirect message to the Congress leadership, especially in light of Singh’s earlier calls for internal reforms and decentralised decision-making within the party.
Explaining the context of the photo, Singh wrote in Hindi that it symbolised the strength of organisational structure, showing how a grassroots volunteer rose to become a state chief minister and eventually the prime minister.
The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister has previously argued that the Congress needs a more pragmatic and decentralised functioning to revive its organisational strength.
Digvijaya Singh Clarifies His Stand on RSS
Following criticism from party colleagues and political rivals, Singh clarified that while he remains strongly opposed to the ideology of the RSS, he respects its organisational efficiency.
He stated that the RSS does not align with the Indian Constitution and functions as an unregistered organisation, but acknowledged that its ability to build and sustain a massive network cannot be ignored. Singh pointed out that even without formal registration, the organisation has grown influential enough for the Prime Minister to describe it as the world’s largest NGO.
Reiterating his opposition to the RSS’s ideology, Singh accused it of spreading social divisions and failing to operate under constitutional norms. However, he added that political parties, including the Congress, could learn from the RSS’s disciplined cadre-building and grassroots mobilisation.
BJP Seizes Opportunity to Target Congress
The BJP was quick to capitalise on Singh’s remarks, using them to attack the Congress’s internal structure. Senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said the Congress has failed to understand the importance of organisational strength and accused it of being controlled by a single family.
Other BJP leaders also joined the attack, questioning whether the Congress leadership would respond to Singh’s remarks and highlighting what they described as a lack of internal democracy within the party.
During the ongoing internal discussions, sources said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked Digvijaya Singh to allow other leaders to share their views during the CWC meeting, signalling discomfort over the issue dominating the party’s internal deliberations.
As the political debate continues, Singh’s remarks have once again brought the spotlight on Congress’s organisational challenges and the broader question of internal reform within India’s oldest political party.
