Digvijaya Singh Rejects RSS Praise Row, Says Congress United, Slams BJP for “Sowing Discord”
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Sunday sought to put to rest the controversy surrounding his recent remarks that were interpreted as praise for the RSS and the BJP’s organisational strength, asserting that the Congress party remains “completely united.” He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of deliberately attempting to create divisions within the Nehru-Gandhi family for political gain.
“There is no difference in ideology. We are all united, and this Nehru-Gandhi family is a family in which two people have been martyred. I strongly condemn the BJP’s attempts to sow discord within this family,” Singh said.
His remarks came on the day the Congress marked its 140th foundation anniversary, amid renewed political sparring between the ruling BJP and the Opposition.
Row over organisational strength remark
The controversy erupted after Digvijaya Singh shared a black-and-white photograph on social media showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi seated on the floor beside senior BJP leader L.K. Advani during Modi’s early political years in Gujarat. In his post, Singh highlighted how grassroots workers could rise through party ranks to become chief minister and even prime minister, attributing such upward mobility to the “strength of organisation.”
Singh had tagged several senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, as well as Prime Minister Modi and official Congress handles, sparking sharp reactions from the BJP.
The BJP claimed Singh’s remarks amounted to “open defiance” of Rahul Gandhi’s leadership. BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi alleged that Rahul Gandhi was being sidelined within his own party and accused the Congress of lacking internal democracy.
“It’s because Narendra Modi is a ‘guddri ke lal’ (diamond in the rough), while their leader is ‘Jawahar ke lal’. Modi rose from the bottom and took the BJP to the top,” Trivedi said.
Singh clarifies position
Responding to the criticism, Digvijaya Singh clarified that his comments were being misrepresented. He said acknowledging the importance of organisational strength does not amount to supporting the RSS or Prime Minister Modi.
“I support organisation-building. I am against the RSS and Modi ji. I was, am, and will remain a staunch opponent of both. Praising organisational strength does not mean endorsing their ideology,” Singh said.
He also reiterated that Rahul Gandhi has initiated efforts to strengthen the Congress from the district level downward, a process he said is currently underway.
Final Thoughts
The episode underlines how remarks on organisational strength can quickly turn into ideological flashpoints in India’s polarised political climate. Digvijaya Singh’s clarification reflects the Congress leadership’s effort to project unity at a time when internal cohesion and grassroots rebuilding remain central to the party’s revival strategy.