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Congress leaders appeared divided on Digvijaya Singh’s praise for the RSS-BJP ecosystem, with some asserting that the party did not need to learn anything from the Sangh.
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s praise for RSS-BJP has deepened a crisis for the party.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh’s unexpected praise for the RSS and the BJP has exacerbated a crisis for the party, triggering damage control efforts by several leaders, even as the former Madhya Pradesh CM clarified that he was opposed to the Sangh ideology.
On Saturday, Digvijaya Singh stoked a political row by praising the organisational structure of the RSS. He shared a photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from 1995 in which he is seen sitting on the ground, near the feet of then BJP president LK Advani and asserted that the Congress could learn from the RSS’s organisational strength.
Other Congress leaders appeared divided over Singh’s remarks. In a sharp jibe at the Sangh, Congress leader Pawan Khera linked the RSS to Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi in 1948. “There’s nothing to learn from the RSS. What can an organisation known for Godse teach an organisation founded by Gandhi?” he said.
#WATCH | Delhi | On Congress leader Digvijaya Singh praising the organisational strength of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Congress leader Pawan Khera says, “…There’s nothing to learn from the RSS. What can an organisation known for Godse teach an organisation founded by… pic.twitter.com/aD4PWgz3fM— ANI (@ANI) December 28, 2025
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also echoed a similar sentiment, saying the Congress had a history of 140 years and could learn from its own party. “Even I want our organisation to strengthen. There should be discipline in our organisation. Digvijaya Singh can speak for himself,” he told reporters.
“The BJP is presenting their statements by twisting and distorting them. We don’t need to learn anything from the RSS; we fought the freedom struggle against the British Raj and its injustices, and we fought it by turning it into a mass movement, so we don’t need to learn anything from anyone; rather, people should learn from the Congress,” said party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate.
READ MORE: ‘RSS Workers Can Sell Comb To Bald Person’: Digvijaya Singh Praises Sangh Again Amid Row
Veteran Congress leader Salman Khurshid came to Singh’s defence, saying the latter was opposed to the Sangh ideology. “Appreciation and accessing facts are two different things. Digvijaya Singh inspires a lot of people. The fundamental ideology of the RSS is contrary to the idea of India… That is a pragmatic assessment of what RSS has been able to achieve. We and Digvijaya Singh reject the complete ideology of RSS,” he was quoted by NDTV as saying.
“We should analyse that where our enemy is strong and where we are strong. It is democracy. Everyone can have their point of view. But we do not agree with the ideology of the RSS at all. They stood with the Britishers,” said Alka Lamba. Rajasthan Congress leader Sachin Pilot said the country needed a strong opposition and there were no differences within the party.
“I don’t think Digvijaya Singh said anything wrong. His answer has been twisted,” said Congress MP Rajani Patil.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also questioned Digvijaya Singh’s “change of mind”, citing his previous criticism of the RSS. “The RSS did not participate in the freedom struggle, did not hoist the national flag at its headquarters for 50 years, and has been responsible for communal tension in the country. This is the same RSS that Digvijaya Singh had attacked in Parliament. I will ask him why this change of mind about the RSS,” he said.
What Did Digvijaya Singh Say?
While highlighting the organisation strength of the RSS-BJP ecosystem, Singh said he was impressed by how grassroots workers of the RSS and BJP could rise to become a Chief Minister and eventually the Prime Minister, calling it “the power of the organisation”.
“I found this image on the Quora site. It’s very impressive. How an RSS grassroots swayamsevak and Jan Sangh BJP worker sat on the floor at the feet of leaders and became the state’s Chief Minister and the country’s Prime Minister. This is the power of the organisation.”
The post quickly drew attention as the Congress has often criticised the BJP and the RSS on several issues, making Singh’s remarks stand out sharply from the party’s usual line. The BJP seized quickly on the matter, saying the post showed open dissent within the Congress.
However, when asked about his post, the veteran Congress leader said, “I have only praised the organisation. I have always opposed the RSS and Prime Minister Modi. I remain against the policies of the RSS and Modi ji.”
(with agency inputs)
December 28, 2025, 11:07 IST
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