Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) of distorting Sanatan Dharma through their advocacy of “Hindutva”, triggering a political controversy. In a video posted on X, Singh alleged that the emphasis on Hindutva had contributed to divisions between religious communities and argued that India belongs to people of all faiths. His remarks come ahead of the “Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra”, a foot march he plans to undertake from Ujjain to Ayodhya beginning October 20. Singh has said the march will raise concerns over what he describes as the exploitation of religion and seek greater accountability in matters connected with the Ram Temple.

Singh said the national discourse had increasingly focused on Hinduism and Hindutva, which he attributed to the RSS and VHP. He argued that the political use of the term had contributed to tensions between Hindus and Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, and Hindus and Christians. “India belongs to everyone. Unity in diversity is our strength,” he said. Singh also referred to Hindutva as a term associated with Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. His comments have drawn criticism from BJP leaders and religious figures, who have rejected his allegations and accused him of making objectionable remarks about Hinduism and Sanatan Dharma.

The Congress leader also claimed that the word “Hindu” does not appear in the Vedas, Upanishads or Puranas and alleged that the RSS and VHP were presenting Sanatan Dharma in a distorted manner. His remarks on the terminology and relationship between Hinduism, Hindutva and Sanatan Dharma have become a central part of the controversy surrounding his planned march. The claims are Singh's own assertions, and they have been disputed by his political opponents. Madhya Pradesh minister Vishwas Sarang has described Singh's statements as objectionable and called for legal action, while other critics have accused him of insulting Sanatan Dharma.

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Singh's planned “Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra” is scheduled to begin at Ujjain on October 20 and proceed towards Ayodhya. He has positioned the march as a campaign against what he calls the misuse or exploitation of religion and has invited people from different communities and backgrounds to participate. Singh has also used the announcement of the yatra to raise questions over the handling of donations and other funds associated with the construction of the Ram Temple. His stated focus on religious accountability has brought the temple donation controversy back into the political debate.

The financial allegations are also part of an ongoing controversy over alleged irregularities involving donations collected for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Singh accused Champat Rai, the former general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, of being an RSS agent and alleged that funds collected for Ram Shilas were misappropriated and that there was fraud during the temple's construction. These claims have not been established as facts against Rai. An investigation into alleged donation theft has been underway, and a chargesheet by the Special Investigation Team reportedly named Rai and other former trust office-bearers as witnesses rather than accused.

The political dispute over Singh's remarks comes amid continued debate over the management of Ram Temple donations and the role of religious organisations in public life. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea concerning alleged irregularities linked to donations and land transactions involving the temple project, with the matter scheduled for November 2. Singh's accusations against the RSS, VHP and temple authorities have therefore added another political dimension to an issue already facing legal scrutiny. BJP leaders and religious figures have rejected his allegations, while Singh has said his upcoming yatra is intended to highlight what he describes as the misuse of religious faith and demand accountability.

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