Digvijaya Singh RSS praise sparks storm:Nidhi Chaturvedi calls remarks ideological betrayal, seeks immediate disciplinary action

A fresh internal controversy has erupted within the Congress after Nidhi Chaturvedi, daughter of former Rajya Sabha MP Satyavrat Chaturvedi, publicly demanded disciplinary action against senior leader Digvijaya Singh. In a strongly worded Facebook post, Nidhi criticized Digvijaya Singh for praising the organisational strength of the RSS-BJP, calling his remarks damaging to the party’s ideological fight. She alleged that Digvijaya Singh’s statement has demoralised grassroots Congress workers and weakened the party’s long-standing ideological struggle against the RSS and BJP. ‘Slap on Rahul Gandhi and workers’ In her post, Nidhi wrote that Digvijaya Singh’s remarks amounted to a “slap” on Rahul Gandhi and thousands of Congress workers who confront the RSS-BJP ideology on the streets every day. She said that as a senior leader, Digvijaya Singh should have strengthened the party’s ideological resolve instead of praising the opposition’s organisational model. Nidhi described the statement as “absurd” and accused Digvijaya Singh of making such remarks merely to remain in headlines, stating that it had deeply hurt the self-respect of committed Congress workers. ‘Congress hollowed from within’ Nidhi Chaturvedi further alleged that Digvijaya Singh has been continuously interfering in Madhya Pradesh politics for the past two decades. According to her, his influence over organisational decisions, leadership selection, and political direction has marginalised many dedicated leaders. She claimed that Congress suffered more damage due to Digvijaya Singh’s internal power struggles and personality-driven politics than from opposition parties. Many grassroots leaders, she said, either withdrew from active politics or were sidelined because of his dominance. RSS praise: Coincidence or family legacy? Raising a controversial question, Nidhi asked whether Digvijaya Singh’s praise of the RSS was a coincidence or linked to his family’s historical association with Hindutva politics. She cited books and research papers on Madhya Pradesh politics that mention the Raghogarh royal family’s links with the Hindu Mahasabha. She pointed out that Digvijaya Singh’s ideological positioning has often contradicted his public claims of being a staunch opponent of the RSS.
Father’s hindu mahasabha background Nidhi referred to claims made by RSS leader Ram Madhav, citing PTI, stating that Digvijaya Singh’s father Balbhadra Singh was an MLA of the Hindu Mahasabha and that Digvijaya Singh himself had once served as a municipal president as a nominated member of the Hindu Mahasabha. She further wrote that Balbhadra Singh contested the 1951–52 Assembly elections as an independent candidate from Raghogarh but had open support from the Hindu Mahasabha and Bharatiya Jana Sangh. Proximity to Golwalkar and BJP links Nidhi also cited Digvijaya Singh’s own interviews, in which he reportedly acknowledged that RSS leader M.S. Golwalkar was close to his father and often stayed at Raghogarh Fort. She mentioned that Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia’s autobiography also documents Balbhadra Singh’s closeness to Jan Sangh and Hindu Mahasabha leaders. She further highlighted that Digvijaya Singh’s brother Laxman Singh joined the BJP in 2003, won the 2004 Lok Sabha election on a BJP ticket, later returned to Congress, and was recently expelled for anti-party activities. “Gross indiscipline,” demands expulsion Calling Digvijaya Singh’s conduct “gross indiscipline,” Nidhi urged the Congress high command to abandon its silence and take strict action. She demanded his expulsion from the party, stating that Congress needs ideological warriors, not “feudal advisors.” What triggered the controversy The controversy began after Digvijaya Singh shared an old photograph on X on December 27, showing Narendra Modi sitting on the floor near L.K. Advani, praising the RSS-BJP organisational structure and calling it a reflection of institutional strength. Party leaders react, Rahul objects Several Congress leaders criticised Digvijaya Singh’s post. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, without naming him, reiterated Congress’ commitment to secularism and constitutional values. Pawan Khera said Congress need not learn from organisations linked to Godse’s ideology. According to an NDTV report, Rahul Gandhi also objected to Digvijaya Singh’s remarks during the Congress Foundation Day event, telling him jokingly, “You did wrong,” a moment witnessed by Sonia Gandhi and other leaders. Digvijaya Singh clarifies Responding to the backlash, Digvijaya Singh said he had only praised organisational discipline, not ideology. He asserted that he remains a staunch opponent of RSS, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and their policies, and claimed there was no ideological divide within the Congress.