Digvijaya alleges BJP and Bajrang Dal taking money from Pakistan's ISI, later denies

BHIND: Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh has made yet another controversial statement alleging that the ruling BJP and the right-wing Hindu outfit Bajrang Dal are getting money from Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

The veteran Congress leader further alleged that non-Muslims were spying for Pakistan's ISI more than the Muslims and people needed to understand this fact.

"Bajrang Dal, BJP are taking money from ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). Attention should be paid to this. Non-Muslims are spying for Pakistan's ISI more than Muslims. This should be understood," Singh said.

The veteran Madhya Pradesh politician made these controversial remarks in Bhind while addressing a gathering after inaugurating the statue of Maharana Pratap.

A video of Singh making controversial remarks against the BJP and Bajrang Dal has been doing the rounds on social media. 

#WATCH MP: Congress leader Digvijaya Singh says, "Bajrang Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are taking money from ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence). Attention should be paid to this. Non-Muslims are spying for Pakistan's ISI more than Muslims. This should be understood." (31.08) pic.twitter.com/NPxltpaRZA — ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2019

However, despite being caught on camera,  the Congress leader later denied making allegations that the BJP was taking money from the ISI and accused media of biased reporting. 

कुछ चेनल चला रहे हैं कि मैंने भाजपा पर यह आरोप लगाया है कि वे ISI से पैसा ले कर पाकिस्तान के लिए जासूसी करते हैं। यह पूरी तरह से ग़लत है। — digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) September 1, 2019

In another tweet, Singh said that he still stands by his remarks that several members of BJP's IT cell, who were arrested by the MP Police, were allegedly working for Pakistan's ISI and receiving money from it. 

बजरंग दल व भाजपा के आईटी सेल के पदाधिकारी द्वारा ISI से पैसे लेकर पाकिस्तान के लिए जासूसी करते हुए मप्र पुलिस ने पकड़ा है। मैंने यह आरोप लगाया है जिस पर मैं आज भी क़ायम हूँ। चैनल वाले ये सवाल भाजपा से क्यों नहीं पूछते। — digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) September 1, 2019

In an earlier tweet, former Madhya Pradesh chief minister had said that the BJP leaders arrested for spying for Pakistan’s ISI should get a strict punishment under the NSA (National Security Act).

He also attacked former state chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan of trying to secure the release of BJP members arrested by the MP Police and dubbed them as Pakistani agents. 

Reacting to his remarks, Shivraj Singh hit back by saying, ''He gives controversial statements to stay in news. He and his leaders speak Pakistan's language. Pakistan quotes Rahul Gandhi. As far as BJP-RSS is concerned, the entire world, the entire country knows their patriotism.''

Singh also attacked the Narendra Modi government at the Centre over its handling of Kashmir and said that if Nehru had not taken Shekh Abdullah in confidence, Kashmir would not have been part of India.

Citing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Singh said that the BJP veteran leader was right in believing that Kashmir issue can only be resolved by taking all stakeholders, including the people of Kashmir, into confidence.

It may be recalled that on August 23, the Anti-Terror Squad of the Madhya Pradesh Police arrested five persons in Satna for suspected links with a terror-funding racket managed by Pakistani operatives and one of those arrested is said to be associated with Bajrang Dal.

He was identified as Balram Singh.

Three of five arrested by the ATS -  Balram Singh, Sunil Singh and Shubham Mishra - were later brought to Bhopal.

They were found to have communicated with their handlers using an app which does not keep any record of the messages it sends, police said.

The arrested persons were in contact with Pakistani handlers with whom they used to share “strategic information”, bank details, and carry out dubious cross-border financial transactions, the ATS official said.

In a statement issued on Friday, the MP Congress’ media coordinator Narendra Saluja aleged that  Balram Singh is associated with the Bajrang Dal.

Referring to the arrests, MP Cabinet Minister Govind Singh said, “Several people from the BJP have been involved in terrorist activities for years. They provide secret information and fund terror.”