Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Digvijaya Singh, made headlines on Sunday by announcing his donation of ₹1.11 lakh for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. During an interaction with reporters in the state’s capital, Bhopal, Singh stated, “I follow Sanatana Dharma, and I am a good Hindu… However, the use of religion in elections is prohibited.”
Singh’s donation coincided with an ongoing political debate about the separation of religion and politics. He pointed out that he had sent the donation cheque to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, in turn, asked him to submit it to the trust directly. Singh complied with the request, submitting the donation himself.
This development follows a recent exchange of words between Digvijaya Singh and the incumbent Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The Congress leader criticized Chouhan for his participation in ‘Kanya Puja’ at his residence during the last day of Navratri, calling him a ‘dramebaaz’ (a person engaged in theatrics). Singh expressed his doubts about the authenticity of Chouhan’s actions, claiming, “Don’t talk about the chief minister. I have never seen such a liar chief minister. I have never seen such a person engaged in drama. Now, even PM Modi is scared of him.”
In response, Chief Minister Chouhan defended the ‘Kanya Puja’ and questioned Singh’s stance on respecting women. He asked the Congress party to clarify its position on the matter.
This political discourse is unfolding against the backdrop of the upcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh, scheduled for November 17. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is vying to retain power in the state, having come to power in 2020 following the collapse of the Congress government. The election results are set to be announced on December 3.
Digvijaya Singh’s donation to the construction of the Ram temple highlights the intersection of religion and politics, a topic that continues to spark debates and discussions in India’s political landscape.
Sources By Agencies
