Digvijaya Singh accuses Centre of using ‘Gujarat model’ against opposition

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh accused the Narendra Modi government of political vendetta on Friday evening in Mathura, saying it was following a “Gujarat model” to target opposition leaders.

Allegations of misuse of agencies

Singh said the jailing of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram showed that the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate and the income tax department were being used against the opposition. He argued that the officers whose advice or consent Chidambaram had acted on had not faced action.

The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister alleged that BJP leader Chinmayanand had been spared even though a postgraduate woman had accused him of rape in an 18-page complaint. He demanded the same treatment as that given to Unnao MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who faces a sexual assault charge and was expelled by the BJP.

Cows, jobs and the economy

Singh objected to the Prime Minister’s reported remarks in Mathura about Om and the cow, calling them baseless and an attempt to divert attention. He said a commission for cow welfare had been set up in Madhya Pradesh during his tenure in 1993-94, but the BJP reversed it in 2003. He praised Chief Minister Kamal Nath for reviving the idea with an order for 1,000 cow shelters, and asked the Centre to fund a scheme for stray cattle.

He also alleged that the BJP received money from beef exporters and had disclosed this to the Election Commission, and said beef exports had risen quickly.

Calling the Prime Minister’s promises on terrorism, fake currency, corruption and black money a “jumla”, Singh said ten lakh automobile workers had lost jobs and bullion workers faced unemployment. He advised the government to adopt former prime minister Manmohan Singh’s six-point formula to tackle the slowdown.

Questioning the government’s claim of normalcy in Kashmir, Singh asked why a curfew was in place and why senior leaders were in detention, and said a false picture was being presented.

See also: Indian National Congress and political leaders.

Originally published on 14 September 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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