'Why all Hindu terrorists have RSS-links?': Digvijaya Singh creates controversy
What's the story
Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, known for his controversial statements, has once again stoked the hornet's nest.
Within three days, he accused RSS of spreading terror twice, clarifying he was talking about "Sanghi terrorism" and not "Hindu terrorism."
He also asked why all "Hindu terrorists" that have been caught till now have links to RSS, citing Nathuram Godse, Mahatma Gandhi's killer, "also an RSS functionary."
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'RSS spreads violence, hatred and propagates terrorism'
On June 17, Singh, head of the Congress Coordination Committee who's on an Ekta Yatra in MP ahead of elections, said, "I have never said 'Hindu terrorism', I always used the term 'Sangh terrorism.' No terror activity can be linked to religion because no religion supports terrorism."
"Those accused in Malegaon, Samjhauta Express and Mecca Masjid blasts were influenced by Sangh ideology," he added.
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'All Hindu terrorists who were caught have links with RSS'
Speaking to a TV channel two days later, Singh reiterated his claims: "All Hindu terrorists who were caught have links with RSS. Nathuram Godse, who assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, was also an RSS functionary," he said.
Reax
Some in Congress disturbed by Singh's comments, but Khurshid defends
Some Congress leaders were upset by his statements. "Singh has come up with such statements when there are a hundred reasons for BJP to lose the next election," complained a Bhopal Congress leader.
But former minister Salman Khurshid defended Singh, saying, "We must contextualize what he said rather than generalize it."
BJP's Prabhat Jha said due to such statements, even Congress doesn't take Singh seriously.
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'Rahul Gandhi has asked Singh to instigate caste-based politics'
However, BJP leader Vishwas Sarang had serious allegations: "Singh's statements are part of the party's game plan. Rahul Gandhi has assigned Singh to instigate caste-based politics ahead of elections. Rahul himself went to Italy to meet separatist forces."
MP will go to polls later this year. It will be a crucial test for the opposition, which has scored a few electoral goals lately.