Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) of distorting Sanatan Dharma and creating religious divisions in India through the promotion of “Hindutva”.
In a video posted on X, Singh said the political discourse in the country had increasingly focused on Hinduism and alleged that the RSS and VHP were responsible for creating divisions between religious communities.
“The discourse in this country has shifted to constantly harping on Hinduism, driven by the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad promoting ‘Hindutva’, a term coined by Savarkar. Because of this, rifts have been created across the country, between Hindus and Muslims, between Hindus and Sikhs, and between Hindus and Christians. India belongs to everyone. Unity in diversity is our strength,” he said.
Singh, 79, is set to undertake a ‘Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra’, a foot march from Ujjain to Ayodhya, which he has described as a protest against the alleged exploitation of religion.
Singh Questions Use of ‘Hindu’ and ‘Sanatan Dharma’
Singh also claimed that the word “Hindu” does not appear in Hindu religious scriptures and accused the RSS and VHP of misrepresenting Sanatan Dharma.
“Today, no one speaks of the Hindu religion; people speak of Sanatan Dharma. The word Hindu does not appear anywhere in our scriptures; be it the Vedas, Upanishads, or Puranas. This is the Sanatan Dharma that the VHP and the RSS are distorting,” he said.
Allegations Over Ram Temple Funds
Singh also made allegations concerning funds collected for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Referring to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra general secretary Champat Rai as an “RSS agent”, Singh alleged that funds collected for Ram Shilas were misappropriated and that there was financial wrongdoing during the construction of the temple.
“They collected donations for the Ram Shilas and embezzled the funds. They then committed fraud during the construction of the Ram Mandir. Champat Rai is an RSS activist with no real connection to religion or Sanatan traditions. He is purely an RSS agent,” Singh alleged.
He further alleged that offerings collected through the VHP were being diverted to BJP election funds and used for constructing buildings for the BJP and RSS.
These allegations have not been independently established in the material provided.
BJP Demands Action Against Singh
Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Vishwas Sarang strongly criticised Singh and called for legal action over his remarks.
“Digvijaya Singh has always been insulting Sanatan, Hindus, Hindu devotees, sadhus, and saints. He always promotes the politics of appeasement,” Sarang said.
He also accused the Congress of opposing the construction of the Ram Temple and questioned Singh’s remarks about Sanatan Dharma.
“I am surprised that he makes such nonsensical statements and engages in such baseless rhetoric without any facts. This is objectionable and regrettable. I believe legal action should also be taken regarding his statements,” Sarang said.
BJP MLA Ram Kadam also criticised Singh, referring to his past remarks about “saffron terror” and his criticism of the Ram Lalla idol after its installation in Ayodhya.
Religious Leaders Also Criticise Singh
Mahant Sitaram Das Ji Maharaj described Singh’s remarks as “highly condemnable and baseless” and accused him of targeting Sanatan culture.
“This statement is highly condemnable and baseless. It is not right for such senior leaders to make such mistakes; it is not decent. These people always try to strike at Sanatan culture,” he said.
Mahamandleshwar Vishnu Das Ji Maharaj also criticised Singh and accused the Congress of having a “colonial mindset” towards Hindu saints and devotees.
“Many Congress leaders, including Digvijaya Singh, have lost their minds. The party, stuck in a colonial mindset, has always tried to brand Ram devotees, saints, Sanatanis, and those who wear saffron as terrorists, with Digvijaya Singh playing a major role in it,” he said.
