Shashi Tharoor Supports Digvijaya Singh's Views

New Delhi: A day after senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh spoke about the need to strengthen the party organisation, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday backed the view, saying there was no doubt that the organisation must be strengthened.

Responding to queries from reporters, Tharoor said, “The organisation should be strengthened, there is no doubt.” When asked whether he had discussed the issue with Digvijaya Singh, with whom he was seated, Tharoor said they regularly interact. “We keep talking with each other. We are friends and talk to each other,” he said.

Referring to the occasion, Tharoor said the Congress was marking its 140th Foundation Day, calling it a significant moment for the party. “It is a day when we look back at our remarkable history and the contributions the party has made to the nation,” he added.

The remarks come amid a controversy triggered by Digvijaya Singh, who on Saturday shared an old photograph of a young Narendra Modi seated near L.K. Advani. In his post on X, Singh praised the organisational strength of the BJP and the RSS, noting that grassroots workers could rise to become Chief Minister or Prime Minister. He described it as “the power of the organisation” and concluded his post with “Jai Shri Ram.”

Following criticism, Singh clarified that his remarks were limited to organisational aspects and that he remained a strong opponent of the BJP and RSS. “You have misunderstood things. I praised the party organisation. I am a staunch opponent of the RSS and Modi ji,” he said.

Several Congress leaders, however, distanced themselves from Singh’s comments. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said there was nothing the Congress could learn from the RSS. “What can an organisation associated with Godse teach an organisation founded by Gandhi?” he asked.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore termed Singh’s remarks a “famous self-goal” and criticised any comparison with the RSS. He alleged that the RSS was built on hatred and compared it to extremist organisations, asserting that the Congress, with its 140-year legacy, should itself be a model of unity and mass mobilisation shaped by Mahatma Gandhi.

Tagore further said such statements did not aid the political struggle led by Rahul Gandhi against the Centre. “Rahul Gandhi is fighting for the people against government monopoly. Such remarks do not help that struggle,” he said.

Earlier, Tagore shared a football analogy on social media, calling the controversy an “excellent self-goal.”