New Delhi: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has entered the growing controversy sparked by remarks from senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. On Sunday night, Reddy took to social media platform X to offer a measured response that underscored his party’s values and highlighted the role of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi in shaping India’s leadership.
Reddy did not mention Singh by name, but his message was a clear rebuttal to the ongoing debate. He praised Sonia Gandhi for her leadership in elevating figures such as PV Narasimha Rao and Dr Manmohan Singh to the position of Prime Minister. Reddy emphasized that the Congress party recognises and rewards merit irrespective of an individual’s background, and that its objective has always been to build strong democratic institutions that foster unity in a diverse nation.
In his post, Reddy reflected on Sonia Gandhi’s contribution, noting that under her guidance, leaders from varied walks of life were given opportunities to serve the nation at the highest levels of government. He spoke of the Congress’s historical role in India’s freedom struggle, constitutional framing, and efforts to unite the country.
The controversy began when Digvijaya Singh posted a message on X highlighting what he saw as the organisational strength of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Singh shared an old photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the early 1990s and commented on the way RSS and Jan Sangh workers progressed through the ranks, calling it “very impressive.”
Singh’s remarks, which appeared to praise aspects of the BJP and RSS, triggered strong reactions within the Congress. He later clarified that his intent was to acknowledge organisational discipline rather than endorse their ideology. Despite this, senior Congress leadership responded sharply. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge reiterated that the Congress has never solicited votes on the basis of religion, and spokesperson Pawan Khera dismissed the notion of conflating Gandhi’s legacy with ideologies historically opposed to his principles.
The exchange unfolded amid a Congress Working Committee meeting in Delhi, where Gandhi and Singh were seen together, seemingly unconcerned by the unfolding debate. Revanth Reddy’s intervention serves to steer the conversation back toward his party’s foundational values, emphasising merit, inclusivity, and democratic unity.
