Overview
- The Congress veteran shared a 1990s photograph, reported from Shankersinh Vaghela’s 1996 swearing-in, showing a young Narendra Modi near L.K. Advani and called it the “power of organisation,” tagging Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, the Congress handle and the Prime Minister.
- After criticism, he said he admires organisational discipline but opposes the RSS and Narendra Modi, later telling reporters the RSS is an unregistered body he disagrees with ideologically while noting Congress can strengthen its own cadre work.
- BJP leaders amplified the post as evidence of Congress infighting, with C.R. Kesavan dubbing it a “truth bomb” and figures like Sudhanshu Trivedi, Prakash Javadekar and Ravi Shankar Prasad attacking Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.
- Congress voices diverged: Shashi Tharoor backed tighter discipline and organisational strengthening, while Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate said there is nothing to learn from the RSS and accused the BJP of twisting statements.
- Context to the flare-up includes Singh’s December 19 call for pragmatic, decentralised reforms and reports noting his Rajya Sabha term ends early next year; on Sunday he said Congress is united and that organisational strengthening is underway.