2 hrs ago
BJP Accuses Congress of Distorting Sanatan Dharma
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh criticized the RSS and VHP over their use of Hindutva and their interpretation of Sanatan Dharma.
He said this had contributed to divisions among religious communities.
BJP MLA Ram Kadam responded by accusing Singh of repeatedly insulting Hindus.
Singh is planning a march from Ujjain to Ayodhya to protest what he calls the exploitation of religion.
Kadam also criticized a separate protest against changes to voter lists and defended electronic voting machines.
He said the Maharashtra government supports MPSC exam aspirants protesting in Pune.
Kadam alleged that some political leaders were trying to use the students’ protest for their own purposes.
The article says the students’ protest had entered its fifth day and had split into three groups over differing demands.
BJP MLA Ram Kadam accused Congress leader Digvijaya Singh of repeatedly defaming Hindus after Singh criticized the RSS and VHP.
Singh said the RSS and VHP were distorting Sanatan Dharma and that Hindutva had contributed to religious divisions; he also said the word “Hindu” does not appear in scriptures.
Singh plans a Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra from Ujjain to Ayodhya to protest what he described as the exploitation of religion.
Kadam also criticized a Thackeray-led protest against the electoral-roll revision and defended EVMs, while alleging opposition leaders had changed their position on voter-list checks.
On the fifth day of MPSC aspirants’ protests in Pune, Kadam said the state supported the students’ demands but alleged a Sharad Pawar faction was using the agitation politically.
- Who
- BJP MLA Ram Kadam, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, and other political leaders; MPSC aspirants are also protesting in Pune.
- What
- Kadam criticized Singh’s remarks about Sanatan Dharma and made comments about other protests, while Singh criticized the RSS and VHP.
- Where
- The comments concerned India; Singh plans to march from Ujjain to Ayodhya, and MPSC aspirants are protesting in Pune.
- When
- Kadam made the remarks on Monday; the MPSC protest was in its fifth day.
- Why
- Kadam responded to Singh’s criticism of the RSS and VHP and addressed protests over electoral rolls and MPSC aspirants’ demands.
Singh and opposition claims
Kadam and BJP claims
Sanatan Dharma and Hindutva
Singh and opposition claims
Singh accused the RSS and VHP of distorting Sanatan Dharma and said promotion of Hindutva had contributed to divisions between religious communities.
Kadam and BJP claims
Kadam accused Singh of repeatedly defaming Hindus and cited Singh’s past remarks about saffron and terrorism.
MPSC students’ protest
Singh and opposition claims
MPSC aspirants were protesting in Pune over their demands; the article says the agitation had divided into three groups over differing demands.
Kadam and BJP claims
Kadam said the state government supported the students and had accepted their demands, but alleged that leaders associated with the Sharad Pawar faction were using the protest politically. He also said the state lacked authority to meet demands that rested with the President.
Electoral rolls and EVMs
Singh and opposition claims
The Thackeray brothers led a protest targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and opposition leaders raised objections to EVMs.
Kadam and BJP claims
Kadam questioned the protest, saying its leaders had previously called for duplicate and fake voter names to be removed, and argued that Congress had introduced EVMs and Uddhav Thackeray had used them in municipal elections.
Key facts
- BJP speaker
- Ram Kadam, a BJP MLA
- Congress leader
- Digvijaya Singh
- Planned march
- Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra, from Ujjain to Ayodhya
- Organizations criticized by Singh
- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)
- Electoral-roll protest
- A march led by Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray toward the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation headquarters
- MPSC protest location
- Pune
- MPSC protest status
- Fifth day, with three groups emerging amid differences over demands
Quotes
Digvijaya Singh
Congress leader commenting on 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.”
thehansindia.com
“This is the same Digvijaya Singh who has always tried to defame Hindus. He linked our sacred saffron colour with terrorism.”
thehansindia.com







