Congress leader faces case for controversial tweet on RSS ideologue, MS Golwalkar
Bhopal, Indore, July 09: Indore police have taken legal action against senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh for allegedly sharing a contentious post about former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief MS Golwalkar on social media. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused Congress leaders of spreading misinformation and fueling social animosity by disseminating this purportedly false post.
Chouhan emphasised that Golwalkar had dedicated his life to eradicating social divisions and fostering a harmonious society. Meanwhile, a state Congress leader defended Singh, stating that he had shared factual information based on a book, and asserted that the BJP cannot suppress the voice of the Congress party.
MS Golwalkar, also known as 'Guruji' among his followers, served as the RSS chief for the longest duration from 1940 to 1973. Digvijaya Singh tweeted an image of a page containing several controversial remarks attributed to Golwalkar, which triggered the backlash. Senior RSS functionary Sunil Ambekar, who heads the organisation's publicity department, accused the former Chief Minister of posting a manipulated image.
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Ambekar denounced the post as baseless, intended to disrupt social harmony, and asserted that Golwalkar never made such statements. He emphasized that Golwalkar's life was dedicated to combating social discrimination. Following a complaint filed by lawyer and RSS worker Rajesh Joshi, an FIR was registered in Indore, charging Digvijaya Singh under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups), 469 (forgery), 500 (defamation), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code.
Indore Police Commissioner Makarand Deuskar confirmed the registration of the case and stated that further action would be taken after a thorough investigation. The complaint alleged that Singh's post, featuring the name and picture of "Guruji," aimed to incite conflict among Dalits, backward classes, Muslims, and Hindus, and hurt the religious sentiments of Sangh workers and the Hindu community.
A Sangh official from Indore accused Digvijaya Singh of spreading false and unwarranted information about MS Golwalkar on social media to tarnish the organization's reputation. Chief Minister Chouhan condemned the Congress leaders' attempts to spread falsehoods and incite social hatred, emphasising the frustration behind such propaganda.
Congress media department chairman KK Mishra defended Singh's actions, stating that the information shared was based on an English book, and expressed confidence that the case would not stand in court. Mishra further criticised the police for allegedly favoring BJP and RSS workers in their actions, citing a complaint made by him regarding a video on beef shared by a state BJP spokesperson that has yet to see any action taken.
The ongoing dispute highlights the clash between political parties and the RSS over the portrayal and interpretation of historical figures and ideologies, further exacerbating tensions between the Congress and the ruling BJP in Madhya Pradesh.
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- With inputs from agencies
