Just ahead of the Congress Working Committee (CWC)’s meeting Saturday, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh sparked a row with a post that praised the organisational strength of the BJP-RSS and the rise of Narendra Modi from an ordinary party worker to the Prime Minister. He also called for reforms and “decentralisation” of power within the Congress for its revival. In an interview with The Indian Express, Digvijaya explains his position on these issues at length. Excerpts:
* A post on social media put out by you praising the organisational strength of the BJP-RSS has created a row?
I don’t know why. Because this is a very rare photograph which I got on Quora which, I said, it is such a remarkable photograph that he (Narendra Modi) is sitting at the feet of Lal Krishna Advani ji on the floor, and then he goes on to become the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister of India.That is the strength of the organisation, otherwise what was Narendra Modi?
* Were you in a way telling this to Rahul Gandhi or the Congress leadership?
No, no. Why should I use a post to tell Mr Rahul Gandhi when I have an option of telling him directly?
* A few days ago, you had also put out a post in which you told Rahul Gandhi that the Congress needs reforms and that while he had started the “sangathan srijan” programme, what the Congress needed was a pragmatic decentralised functioning.
He (Rahul) has made an effort. In sangathan srijan, he has been able to appoint DCC presidents, all these vacancies have been filled up, and now the process of taking it down to the last polling booth has begun. It will be done within a schedule. Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal both have given the assurance and details. We are very hopeful it will be done.
* But this post ended with an interesting line. You said while you are sure that Rahul would initiate steps to ensure decentralised functioning which only he can do, and then you stated that the “only problem is that it is not easy to convince you (Rahul)”.
Actually it is not easy to convince a committed person. He will do it – once he takes a decision, he will not let it go. And he has made a decision now, which is very encouraging.
* So today’s post was not telling the Congress leadership anything?
No no… nothing at all. When there is a Congress Working Committee meeting coming in the next one hour, why should I do it?
* Exactly. Why did you issue such a post lauding the BJP-RSS an hour before the CWC meeting?
It is unconnected. Why do you connect the two? It is totally unconnected.
* It seems you were pointing to the Congress leadership about the sangathan shakti of the BJP-RSS, indicating that the Congress should also learn something from that.
I am one of the bitterest critics of the RSS’ ideology and the functioning of Mr Narendra Modi and his policies. I have never let go of an opportunity to do that. But then as far as their organisation is concerned, there is no doubt that their organisation stands much better than us (Congress).
* And the Congress should also learn something from their organisation – if not follow or emulate?
No. The issue is that the Congress is a party of movement – our freedom struggle was one of the biggest movements which gave us Independence through struggle based on love, compassion, truth and non-violence. Tell me which other country has done that? Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana Azad saab… those stalwarts and of course hundreds and thousands of workers and people who laid down their lives in the freedom struggle, Jallianwala Bagh and other things. It’s history that we won freedom without firing a shot, only through non-violent means. This is the strength of Mahatma Gandhi.
* What do you think the Congress should do now?
We are doing what we should be doing. We have started now.
* Is there centralisation of power in the Congress?
Basically I have always been for decentralisation. If you see my tenure, decentralisation of power was my hallmark. So I sincerely believe in decentralisation.
* How will it be applied to the Congress organisation?
Basically it is to give the authority, and Rahul Gandhi has rightly given the authority to the districts now. And then it has to be taken down the line – to the block, mandal, polling booth, village, mohalla. We have to take it down to the lowest levels.
* So that was your whole intention behind this post?
Don’t link this tweet with that – that is separate. This tweet was basically as a compliment to the organisational strength of the RSS, which I have been a great admirer of, but I don’t subscribe to that ideology. In fact, I am one of the bitterest critics – the way they are spreading false rumours, fake news, spreading the message of hatred and violence against the minorities. I am absolutely strongly opposed to this.
* You are a critic but you admire their organisational strength. In some way, you think the Congress should also buck up and do the same – not follow or emulate, but strengthen the organisation.
That has started now. We have started now. I am sure we will do it.