By Ashish Kurl
Bhopal: Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh has ignited a fresh political debate within the Congress after making remarks acknowledging the organisational strength of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while firmly reiterating his opposition to their ideology and to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Singh’s comments were made in reference to a photograph showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi seated on the floor beside senior BJP leader L.K. Advani. Citing the image, Singh observed that the RSS–BJP organisational framework possesses the capacity to nurture grassroots workers and elevate them to the highest levels of power.
Clarifying his position, Digvijaya Singh stated, “I appreciate the organisation, but I have always been a vocal opponent of the ideology of the RSS and Modi. My praise is for their organisational strength, not for their ideology.”
However, the remarks triggered sharp reactions within the Congress. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera questioned what a Gandhian organisation like the Congress could possibly learn from an organisation associated with Nathuram Godse. Several other leaders also distanced themselves from Singh’s comments, underlining the deep ideological divide between the Congress and the RSS.
Political analysts believe that Singh’s statement reflects underlying concerns within the Congress regarding organisational weakness and internal dissatisfaction. A two-time Chief Minister and a party veteran with over five decades of experience, Singh is seen as being worried about the Congress’s declining grassroots connect. Analysts suggest that his remarks should be viewed less as ideological endorsement and more as a call for organisational introspection and reform.
According to this interpretation, Singh is advocating that the Congress draw practical lessons in organisational efficiency and decentralised leadership, without compromising its core ideology.
Singh’s message, observers say, is unambiguous: despite strong ideological opposition, there should be no hesitation in learning from the organisational strengths of political rivals. Such an approach, he believes, could strengthen Congress workers at the grassroots and help prepare a new generation capable of mounting a more effective challenge in the political arena.
