Congress leader Digvijaya Singh spoke about the ongoing infighting in the Madhya Pradesh Congress
Giving a new twist to the ongoing infighting in the Madhya Pradesh Congress, party veteran Digvijaya Singh today sought to link it to his allegations associating BJP and Bajrang Dal leaders with Pakistan's spy agency ISI.
Digvijaya Singh said the allegations levelled against him by party colleague and Forest Minister Umang Singhar would be looked into by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who is also the Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee head.
In his first public comments after Mr Singhar's allegations, the former chief minister said his fight is against the ideology that killed Mahatma Gandhi. The 72-year-old Congress leader denied suggestions that he was acting like a "super CM" and said Kamal Nath was strong enough to handle his responsibilities.
"My fight is against the BJP's ideology. I never compromised with the ideology and will never do so because this ideology (BJP's) is against the Indian culture and sanskara...This is the ideology which killed Mahatma Gandhi," Digvijaya Singh alleged, reported new agency Press Trust of India.
"This entire episode (Umang Singhar's allegations) started when I alleged that BJP IT Cell leader Dhruv Saxena and Bajrang Dal leader Balram Singh were caught taking money from ISI (Pakistan's spy agency)," he claimed.
The Rajya Sabha MP further added, "They were held by the STF in 2017 but the then BJP government did not invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against them."
"The BJP government also did not oppose their bail (in court). The recent development is linked to these allegations," Mr Singh claimed.
This (Umang Singhar's allegations) has given opportunity to the BJP (to target the Congress)," he further claimed.
Digvijaya Singh said the Congress leadership will look into the statements made against him by Umang Singhar.
"What happened during the past 4-5 days would be looked into by Kamal Nath ji and Sonia ji. I appeal to all to abide by party discipline and not to offer any opportunity to the BJP (to criticise the Congress and its government)," he said.
Earlier this week, Umang Singhar, who is the nephew of former leader of opposition and Congress stalwart the late Jamuna Devi, had accused the former two-time chief minister of "blackmailing" the party-led government in the state.
In a letter to Sonia Gandhi, Umang Singhar had claimed Digvijaya Singh is trying to "destabilise" the nine-month-old Kamal Nath government.
Digvijaya Singh had recently written a letter to state ministers, urging them to give him appointment so that he can know what action has been taken on his recommendations for transfers and other development works.
Umang Singhar took strong exception to Digvijaya Singh's letter, saying the former chief minister is running the Kamal Nath-led government from "behind the curtain".
Justifying his letter to ministers, Digvijaya Singh said, "The Congress government has been formed due to hard work of party workers. They come to me for their work and letters of the same were forwarded to ministers."
"What was wrong in the letter if I wanted to know about the action on these letters in accordance with law. This is my responsibility as an MP," he claimed.
Asked if he will meet Umang Singhar to sort out differences, Digvijaya Singh said, "I am not a diabetic. I don't drink bitter tea."
Asked about allegation about his being a "super CM, Digvijaya Singh said, Kamal Nath ji is a strong enough and he doesnt need anybody else."
Earlier on Wednesday, Umang Singhar had softened his stand after meeting Kamal Nath and talking to the party's state in-charge Deepak Babaria.
"I have put forward my views before the party high command and Kamal Nath ji and I have nothing more to say," Umang Singhar told reporters on Friday when asked about reaction on Digvijaya Singh's statements.