Quote, Unquote Digvijaya Singh: 10 most controversial statements

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has always been known for his foot-in-mouth comments and remarks that have often landed him in trouble. HT takes a look at some of the remarks made by him that created ripples in the political world and the most recent one being a sexist comment on fellow Congress MP Meenakshi Natarajan.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has always been known for his foot-in-mouth moments and remarks that have often landed him in trouble. There were times when he had to either clarify those statements or retract them. Instances of his party distancing itself from them are innumerable, as he had often been found to be out of sync with the party’s line on several issues.

HT takes a look at some of the remarks made by him that created ripples in the politiacal world and the most recent one being a sexist comment on a fellow Congress MP Meenakshi Natarajan.

July 2013
Digvijaya's comment on woman Congress MP sparks controversy

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's 'sexist remarks' against a Congress MP from Mandsaur, Meenakshi Natrajan, sparked controversy and gave a shot in the Opposition’s arm. Read more

VIDEO: Digvijaya clarifies on remark on Meenakshi Natarajan

July 2013
'RSS trains activists in making bombs'

Continuing his RSS bashing, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh alleged that Sangh trains its activists in making bombs. He told reporters that he has video clips of four VHP and RSS activists accepting that they were trained by Sangh in making bombs.
Read more

July 2013
'I stick to stand that Batla House encounter was fake'

Speaking to reporters, Digvijaya Singh said he would not apologise to BJP over his remark that the Batla House encounter was fake. "I will never apologise. I still maintain that encounter was fake," he said. This remark invited reactions from different politicos. Read more

July 21, 2013
Complaint against Digvijaya over Raghavji tweet

A local lawyer filed a police complaint against senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh over a controversial tweet posted by him after the arrest of former BJP minister Raghavji on sodomy charges.

Singh's tweet had mentioned "Ram and Raghavji" and it was written a few days after the former state finance minister was arrested following allegation of sexual assault levelled by his servant. Read more

July 8, 2013
Bodh Gaya blasts: Digvijaya hints at Modi link, draws ridicule

Digivijaya hinted at Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as having links to the recent Bodh Gaya blasts.

Tweeting on the terror attack, Singh took a potshot at Modi, saying: “Amit Shah (BJP general secretary) promises a grand temple at Ayodhya. Modi addresses Bihar BJP workers and asks them to teach Nitish (Bihar CM) a lesson… next day, bomb blasts at Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya. Is there a connect? I don’t know.” Read more

May 13, 2013
Digvijaya takes a dig at judiciary

Singh triggered a political debate when he questioned the Supreme Court's criticism of the CBI and called it a "caged parrot". He added such a description by the judiciary amounted to belittling important institutions. Read more

April 18, 2013
Modi hiring PR firms to boost his image: Digvijaya

Attacking Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi for his "false claims" about development of the state, Digvijaya accused him of hiring public relations companies to boost his image and spreading wrong facts about the state. Read more

March 2013
Digvijaya sticks to ‘dual-centre’ view

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had said in a TV interview that “two power centres” — a reference to the PM and the Congress president — has not worked well and it should change in future. Read more

January 3, 2011
Digvijaya says he will release phone talk with Karkare

Singh stoked a controversy by saying that hours before 26/11 attacks, slain Mumbai top cop Hemant Karkare had called him to say his life was under threat.

"I had spoken to him three and a half hours...it was between 6 and 7 PM on 26/11....I was very shocked when I came to know that he was killed," he said. Read more

VIDEO: Digvijaya Singh compares Kejriwal with Rakhi Sawant:

May 2011
Digvijaya defends comment on Osama burial

Welcoming United States action against Osama bin Laden after the Abbottabad operation on May 2, Singh said "Osamaji had been living in Pakistan for so many years, how is it possible that the Pakistani authorities could not locate him."

He defended his comment that the US should have given al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden a dignified burial.

But, later dismissed his remark as "media creation".

"Absolutely yes, thanks to media. What I can do when the media did not understand my sarcasm regarding Osama found near the Pakistan military academy," he said. Read more

December 7, 2010
Digvijaya says Advani helped RSS infiltrate govt, media

Digvijaya on the anniversary of Babri Masjid’s destruction in 2010, accused BJP leaders, such as LK Advani, of planting secret agents in government and the media.

“RSS has people everywhere. Advani had even planted RSS men in the media when he was information and broadcasting minister,” Singh said, releasing a book by Urdu journalist Aziz Burney, titled An RSS Conspiracy in 26/11?Read more

Also see:

• Rahul won't be declared as PM candidate: Digvijaya

• Gujarat CM wants to break up the BJP: Digvijaya

• Digvijaya cautions Rajnath Singh against Modi

• Digvijaya accuses Chhattisgarh govt of 'sheltering' Naxals