Digvijaya Singh's Remark on 'Revoking Article 370' Sparks Row, Calls Opponents Illiterate

In a recent conversation with a Pakistan-based journalist on the Clubhouse app, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh hinted at ‘relooking’ the decision of revoking Article 370.

During the conversation, Digvijaya said, “Democracy was not there in Kashmir when they revoked Article 370, ‘insaniyat’ was not there as they had put everyone behind bars. Meanwhile, ‘Kashmiriyat’ is something that is the fundamentals of secularism. Because in a Muslim-majority state there was a Hindu king and both worked together. In fact, the reservation in Kashmir was given to Kashmiri pandits, therefore, the decision of revoking Article 370 and reducing the statehood of J&K, is a sad decision. And the Congress party will certainly have to relook at this issue,”

The decision to revoke Article 370 was taken on August 5, 2019, by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government in a bid to integrate Jammu and Kashmir with India.

Digvijaya was responding to Shahzeb Jillani, a Pakistan-based journalist currently residing in Germany who had that he was shocked at the changing landscape of politics and Indian society under the Modi regime. He alleged that post revocation of Article 370, the relationship between India and Pakistan have strained. He also added that in the last couple of months the media is speaking up against the Narendra Modi government.

Meanwhile, the opposition leaders condemned Singh’s statement and BJP’s Amit Malviya said, “This is what Pakistan wants.” Shandilya Giriraj Singh, BJP Karyakarta tweeted, “Digvijay Singh conveyed Rahul Gandhi’s message to Pakistan. Congress will help Pakistan in grabbing Kashmir.”

Responding to the opposition’s claims, Digvijay said, “Illiterates cannot understand the difference between shall and consider.”

During the same conversation on clubhouse, Singh on religious fundamentalism said, “I sincerely believe what is dangerous to the society is the religious fundamentalism, whether it is Hindu, Islam, Christianity or Sikhism. It only leads to hatred, which eventually leads to violence.”

Religious groups have to realise that everyone has the right to follow the traditions and faith which they adhere to and no one has the right to impose their beliefs and religion on anyone else, he added.

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