Politics in Chhattisgarh has always been intertwined with the challenge of Naxalism. On Wednesday, during a seminar dedicated to former CM Arjun Singh’s legacy, Digvijaya Singh decided it was time to clear the air.The Core Argument: Exploitation vs. Violence Digvijaya Singh made a very nuanced point. He stated that the struggle for social and economic progress the fight against being exploited by officials or local bullies is a legitimate one. "We support the fight against exploitation," he said, "but we will never support the violence that Naxalites use."He reminded the audience that the Congress party is rooted in Gandhian ideology, which has zero room for guns and bloodshed. To underscore this, he mentioned that the Congress can "never forget" how Naxalites have specifically targeted and killed its leaders in the past (alluding to the tragic Jhiram Ghati incident).The "Poison of Communalism" The veteran leader didn't stop at Naxalism. He took a sharp jab at the current political climate, claiming that the "poison of communalism" is being spread across the country. He criticized both the BJP and AIMIM, suggesting that they thrive on dividing localities into "Hindu" and "Muslim" pockets.He echoed Rahul Gandhi’s famous phrase, saying the goal is to "open a shop of love in the market of hatred."A New Slogan for the People Wrapping up his speech, Singh proposed a simple yet powerful new guiding principle for his party workers: "No caste, no creed, Congress is with the poor." Whether it’s the struggle of the tribal people in the forests or the marginalized in the cities, Singh’s message was clear—focus on the ideology of upliftment, but stay strictly on the path of non-violence.
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