A state Congress leader said Digvijaya Singh "had shared facts" on the basis of a book
Indore police have registered a case against Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh for allegedly sharing a controversial post on former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief MS Golwalkar on social media, an official said today.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accused Congress leaders of spreading "misinformation" and creating social hatred by sharing the "false" post.
Mr Chouhan said the former RSS head worked throughout his life to remove social differences and build a harmonious society.
A state Congress leader said Digvijaya Singh "had shared facts" on the basis of a book and that the BJP cannot silence the voice of his party.
MS Golwalkar was the longest serving RSS chief and was at the helm of the organisation from 1940-73.
Digvijaya Singh yesterday tweeted a picture of a page carrying several controversial comments attributed to the former RSS head, known as 'Guruji' among his admirers.
Following the post, senior RSS functionary and its publicity department head Sunil Ambekar accused the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister of posting a "photoshopped" image.
It is baseless and is meant to cause social disharmony, he said, adding that 'Guruji' never made such remarks. His life was spent removing social discrimination, he said.
Based on a complaint filed by lawyer and RSS worker Rajesh Joshi, an FIR was registered in Indore on Saturday night against Digvijaya Singh under Indian Penal Code sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence), 469 (forgery for purpose of harming reputation), 500 (defamation) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), an official from Tukoganj police station said.
Speaking to reporters, Indore Police Commissioner Makarand Deuskar said, "We received a complaint claiming that Singh in the post attributed some remarks to Golwalkar which the latter never made. Based on this complaint, the case has been registered against Singh." Further steps would be taken after a probe into the charges against Digvijaya Singh, Mr Deuskar said.
In his complaint, Rajesh Joshi alleged Mr Singh had shared a controversial poster on Facebook and Twitter bearing the name and picture of "Guruji" to incite people by creating conflict among Dalits, backward classes, Muslims and Hindus.
The complaint claimed Mr Singh's post allegedly hurt the religious beliefs of Sangh workers and the Hindu community.
In a statement to the media, a Sangh official from Indore alleged that Digvijaya Singh had made a "false and unwarranted post" about MS Golwalkar on social media to tarnish the organisation's image.
Chief Minister Chouhan said in a tweet posted on Saturday night, "It is the habit of Congress leaders to spread misinformation and hatred without knowing the facts. Revered Shri Golwalkar Guruji worked throughout his life to remove social differences and build a harmonious society."
"Such false propaganda about Guruji shows the frustration of Congress leaders. "The attempt to create social hatred by putting a false picture of Guruji is condemnable," he said.
When contacted, MP Congress media department chairman KK Mishra told PTI that Digvijaya Singh shared the facts on the basis of an English book. Digvijaya Singh writes everything after verifying the facts and this case will not stand in the court of law, he said.
"The BJP can't silence the voice of Congress. I had given a complaint to the police about a video on beef shared by a state BJP spokesman, but four months have passed and the police have not take any action despite submission of all proofs," Mr Mishra said.
The police act only on the complaints of BJP and RSS workers, the Congress leader alleged.