Daijiworld Media Network - Bhopal
Bhopal, Apr 18: A political storm erupted in Madhya Pradesh on Friday as Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia launched a fierce verbal attack on Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh, branding him "anti-national" over a controversial video that has ignited widespread debate.
The video in question, circulated by several BJP leaders including Scindia, purportedly shows Digvijaya Singh admitting he tried to trigger communal unrest in Bhopal after the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid. The BJP has labeled it a “communal confession” and used it to accuse Singh of stoking violence for political gain.
Scindia, a former Congress colleague of Singh turned BJP heavyweight, shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter), captioning it with a pointed Hindi proverb implying that a person’s true nature can’t be hidden for long. He added that no disguise could conceal what he described as the "anti-national" character of Congress leaders.
The video quickly set off a chain reaction in political circles. Congress leaders responded with sharp criticism, accusing the BJP of spreading misinformation. Former state minister P.C. Sharma dismissed the video as doctored and lashed out at Scindia for promoting what he called “fabricated propaganda.”
In a counter-post on X, Sharma invoked the legacy of Scindia’s late father, Madhavrao Scindia, a respected Congress leader, urging his son to follow in his ideological footsteps. “Your father stood for truth and secularism — learn from his example instead of peddling fake videos,” Sharma said.
The controversy began when Madhya Pradesh Youth and Welfare Minister Vishwas Sarang posted the disputed video on Thursday, claiming it was evidence of Singh's role in instigating the 1992 riots in Bhopal. In the clip, Singh allegedly states that during his tenure as state Congress president, he "made all possible efforts for communal violence."
Singh has vehemently denied the accusation, calling the video "maliciously edited." According to him, the original statement included the word "na" (meaning "no"), which completely altered the context of his remark. “They removed the word to twist my sentence and defame me,” he said, accusing the BJP of deliberate misinformation.
As the row continues to escalate, both parties are digging in their heels. While the BJP doubles down on its claim, the Congress is rallying behind Singh, denouncing the video as part of a coordinated campaign to distract from real issues ahead of the upcoming elections.