Digvijaya Singhs RSS Remarks Spark Party Strategy Debate
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has once again placed the party's internal dynamics under scrutiny following his remarks on the organisational strength of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Ahead of a crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet, Singh highlighted the RSS-BJP's organisational prowess while simultaneously advocating for the Congress to bolster its grassroots presence to effectively challenge the ruling government.
A day later, Singh clarified his stance, asserting his consistent opposition to the RSS-BJP ideology and underscoring his long-standing commitment to combating communal forces. He emphasised that his earlier comments were solely a recognition of organisational effectiveness, not an endorsement of ideology, and that all organisations require strengthening.
The remarks drew mixed reactions within the Congress. Shashi Tharoor voiced support for Singh, stressing the imperative for party discipline and organisational rejuvenation. Conversely, Congress MP Manickam Tagore sharply criticised Singhs statement, labelling it a "famous self-goal" and drawing a controversial comparison between the RSS and Al-Qaeda.
Tagore stressed that the Congress, with its 140-year history, should embody unity and act as a peoples movement, as envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi, rather than seeking lessons from organisations like the RSS. The BJP, meanwhile, capitalised on Singh's initial comments to attack the Congress leadership, characterising it as autocratic.