Bhopal: As the sacred month of Sawan begins and Kanwar Yatra unfolds across India with full devotion and elaborate administrative arrangements, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has stirred a fresh political controversy through a Facebook post questioning road blockades during the pilgrimage.
Singh posted an image comparing two situations—one where roads are blocked due to the Kanwar Yatra, and another where Muslims offering namaz appear to be pushed back by the police. Along with the visuals, he wrote the caption, “One country, two laws,” implying unequal treatment based on religious identity.
The post immediately triggered sharp reactions, especially from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vishwas Sarang lashed out, dubbing the Congress veteran “Maulana Digvijaya Singh,” accusing him of habitually insulting Sanatan Dharma and attempting to malign Hindu festivals.
“Maulana Digvijaya Singh only opposes Sanatan Dharma. He even tries to create controversy around sacred festivals like the Kanwar Yatra. Nothing more can be expected from someone who glorifies Zakir Naik, defends terrorists, questions army operations, and echoes pro-Pakistan sentiments,” said Sarang in a strong rebuttal.
The BJP leader further alleged that Singh has a history of demeaning Hindu culture, saints, and beliefs, and is using such tactics to appease a particular community. “If such remarks are made about any Hindu festival, they will not be tolerated. Digvijaya Singh must apologise for this,” added Sarang.
The Kanwar Yatra, one of the largest religious pilgrimages in the country, sees lakhs of Shiva devotees — known as Kanwariyas — collecting holy water from rivers and walking or traveling to offer it to Lord Shiva in their local temples. In states like Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand, major arrangements including traffic diversions, security deployments, medical camps, and resting shelters have been made to facilitate the yatra.
