Congress MP Digvijaya Singh.
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has been facing flak over his alleged leaked chat where he was heard saying to a Pakistan journalist that if Congress comes to power, it will consider revoking Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
While BJP strongly objected his comment earlier in the day targerting Congress that it is a clubhouse of anti-nationals, the Madhya Pradesh BJP has now lambasted at Digvijaya demanding a probe by the NIA into the Congress veteran's activities.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has also accused Sonia Gandhi-led party of speaking the "language of Pakistan".
Another BJP leader alleged that Singh has betrayed the country and his remarks come in the category of "anti-national act".
Digvijaya's leaked chats
During a clubhouse conversation, Singh purportedly made the remarks to a person, who the BJP said was a journalist of Pakistani origin.
ALSO READ | 'Will rethink decision to revoke article 370 if brought to power', Digvijay Singh in leaked audio
On Saturday, BJP's IT cell's chief Amit Malviya shared a clip of Digvijay Singh's purported chat on his Twitter handle, claiming that in the clubhouse chat, the Congress leader was talking about reconsidering Article 370 in Kashmir.
"Democracy was not there in Kashmir when they revoked Article 370. Then 'insaniyat' (humanity) was not there because they put everyone behind bars and 'Kashmiriyat' is something which is basically the fundamentals of secularism. Because in a Muslim-majority state, there was a Hindu raja (king) and both worked together. In fact, the reservation in Kashmir was given to Kashmiri Pandits in government services. So therefore, the decision of revoking Article 370 and reducing the statehood of J&K is extremely sad decision and the Congress party would certainly have to have a relook on this issue," Digvijay Singh is allegedly heard saying in this audio with a screen shot that shows several faces.
Reacting to this, Chouhan said the Congress had committed a sin by imposing Article 370 in Kashmir.
Kashmir crown jewel of India, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan
"Kashmir is the crown jewel of India. It is an integral part of the country. It was the Congress, which committed the sin of imposing Article 370 in Kashmir…Congress speaks the language of Pakistan," Chouhan said.
He added that Sonia Gandhi should clear the stand of the Congress party on this issue.
"She should answer, and if they do not answer, then it will be assumed that they completely agree with Digvijay Singh ji's views," he said. Chouhan said that Digvijay Singh will never be successful in his intentions.
"No matter how hard you try, your plans will never be successful. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, this country is one, and will continue to be one," he said, while accusing the Congress's Rajya Sabha MP of fuelling separatism and disturbing peace in Kashmir.
NIA should investigate phone calls of Digvijay Singh
State BJP president VD Sharma said the National Investigation Agency (NIA) should investigate the phone calls of Digvijay Singh, and questioned the involvement of a Pakistani journalist in this chat.
Sharma also said that he will soon write a letter in this regard to Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
"NIA should investigate all the activities of Digvijaya Singh. The act of involvement of Pakistan's journalist in the chat should also be investigated... I will write a letter to the union home minister in this regard," he said, adding that the Congress veteran is habitual of doing this.
Digvijaya Singh has made it fashion of attacking sovereignty of country
Sharma said Digvijay Singh has made a "fashion" of attacking sovereignty of the country for appeasement and vote bank politics.
Reacting to the audio, Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang said that it is unfortunate that Digvijaya Singh gave this statement in a clubhouse chat, in which the Pakistani journalist was present.
"Digvijay Singh has betrayed the country by making this statement. This remark over Article 370 comes in the category of anti-national act,” Sarang said. He said that Digvijay Singh and other Congress leaders are trying to defame India on the international stage.
"Nobody can change the decision of revoking Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Illiterates cannot understand...: Digvijaya's defence
Facing flak, Digvijay Singh posted a tweet saying, "Illiterates cannot understand the difference between shall and consider."
Talking to PTI, a senior State Congress spokesperson said this was a national issue and the party has yet not issued any guidelines to speak on this subject.
"We can't give a reaction on Singh's alleged statement on this issue as of now," he said.
Meanwhile, former minister and Congress MLA from Raghogarh, Jaivardhan Singh, son of Digvijay Singh, in a tweet said, "The next election will not be fought on Article 370 but on the issues of rising inflation, unemployment and the devastation caused by COVID-19 in the country.
ALSO READ | Congress clubhouse of anti-nationals, first love is Pakistan: BJP on Digvijaya's leaked chat
