Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has vehemently denied allegations made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, asserting that he did not oppose the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI). Instead, Singh accused the BJP of forming alliances with PFI's political wing during elections in Karnataka. Addressing a rally in Khilchipur under the Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituency, Shah accused Singh of various wrongdoings, including opposing the ban on PFI and advocating against the capital punishment for Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
Digvijaya Singh, the Congress candidate from Rajgarh, countered Home Minister Amit Shah's claims, stating, "Amit Shah lied that Digvijaya Singh had opposed the ban on PFI." He further clarified that during his tenure as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, he was the first to ban the Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Singh also refuted Shah's allegations regarding his stance on Afzal Guru's hanging, affirming that he had supported Guru's execution at the earliest opportunity.
Responding to Shah's remarks about Congress' manifesto including "Muslim personal loan," Singh clarified, "There is no mention of 'Muslim personal loan' in Congress' manifesto." Additionally, Singh denied ever using the term "bhagwa aatankwad" (saffron terror), as claimed by Shah.
Singh, who had represented the Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituency in the past, highlighted his contributions to the region, including arranging oxygen cylinders during the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting vaccination efforts. He also emphasised developmental initiatives undertaken by the Congress government, such as the establishment of a medical college in Rajgarh and the proposal for a railway line from Bhopal to Ramganj Mandi.
Digvijaya Singh Responds To Amit Shah's 'Aashiq Ka Janaaza Hai...' Dig
Referring to Shah's suggestion of Singh bidding farewell to politics, the senior Congress leader responded, "The time has come to give him a permanent farewell from politics." “The time has come to give him a permanent farewell from politics... ‘Aashiq ka janaaza hai, zara dhoom se nikle’. Defeat him with a massive margin and make him sit at home,” the senior BJP leader had remarked.
Singh claimed that the Union Home Minister asked people to take out his “janaaza” (funeral). “That means BJP leaders want to take out my funeral!! And why? Because I care about all of you. If I had wanted, I would have refused to contest the elections but the neglect of the people of my home area forced me to contest this election,” the Rajgarh candidate said.
He expressed determination to continue serving the people and contested the upcoming elections despite challenges.
The BJP has renominated Rodmal Nagar as its candidate for the Rajgarh seat, where Singh had contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and faced defeat against BJP's Pragya Singh Thakur.