Digvijay’s RSS-VHP Attack Sparks Fury Among Ayodhya Seers.

Ayodhya Seers Hit Back at Digvijay Singh’s Attack on RSS-VHP.

Saints call Congress leader’s Hindutva remarks “baseless”; Ujjain-Ayodhya ‘Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra’ draws sharp religious backlash…

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Ayodhya | October 6, 2026:: A fresh political-religious controversy has erupted over Congress veteran Digvijay Singh’s allegations against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), with seers in Ayodhya accusing him of attacking Sanatan traditions and attempting to politicise religious issues.

The remarks come ahead of Singh’s proposed ‘Sanatan Swabhiman Yatra’, a long-distance foot march that he plans to undertake from Ujjain to Ayodhya beginning October 20. Recent reports put the planned route at roughly 930 km, with the march scheduled to begin at the Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain and conclude in Ayodhya.

Ayodhya seers reject Singh’s allegations

Mahant Sitaram Das Ji Maharaj strongly rejected Singh’s criticism of the RSS and VHP, describing his remarks as “highly condemnable and baseless.”

Speaking to ANI, the seer accused Congress leaders of repeatedly targeting Sanatan culture and recalled the political opposition surrounding the Ram Janmabhoomi issue. He also criticised those who, according to him, opposed the construction of the Ram temple and referred to the participation of lawyers in the legal battle.

The seer further warned that Singh’s proposed political-religious campaign could face opposition in Ayodhya, saying that those associated with it could be shown black flags.

Mahamandleshwar Vishnu Das Ji Maharaj also attacked the Congress leader, accusing the party of retaining what he described as a “colonial mindset” towards Hindu saints and saffron-clad religious figures.

He alleged that Congress leaders, including Singh, had historically attempted to associate Hindu religious movements and saffron symbolism with extremism. Reacting specifically to the proposed yatra, he said the Hindu community would give Singh a “fitting welcome.”

Singh accuses RSS, VHP of distorting Sanatan Dharma

Singh’s latest remarks have centred on his long-standing criticism of Hindutva politics and the role of the RSS and VHP in shaping India’s public discourse.

In a recent video statement, the Congress leader alleged that the national conversation had increasingly become centred on Hindutva and claimed that this had contributed to divisions between different religious communities.

Singh also questioned the contemporary use of the word “Hindu”, arguing that the term does not occur in the Vedas, Upanishads or Puranas. He accused the RSS and VHP of giving Sanatan Dharma a political character.

His comments have triggered criticism from BJP leaders as well. Madhya Pradesh minister Vishwas Sarang accused Singh of repeatedly insulting Sanatan Dharma, Hindus and Hindu saints and called for legal action over his remarks.

Ram temple donations become another flashpoint

The controversy has also expanded into Singh’s allegations concerning funds collected for the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

Singh has alleged financial irregularities in the handling of donations and offerings associated with the temple project and has levelled accusations against Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra general secretary Champat Rai. He has further alleged that money collected through the VHP is being diverted towards BJP and RSS activities. These are allegations made by Singh, and the available reports do not establish them as proven facts.

The RSS and VHP have been central to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for decades. The organisations have consistently presented the construction of a Ram temple at the disputed site as a matter of Hindu faith and were prominent participants in the wider temple campaign.

Yatra puts Congress’s Sanatan outreach under spotlight

Singh has described his proposed march as an effort to defend Sanatan values and protest what he considers the exploitation of religion for political and financial purposes. Earlier, he said the journey would be non-political and framed it as a campaign for “Dharma Raksha.”

The planned Ujjain-Ayodhya march nevertheless places Singh in direct confrontation with organisations and religious figures that have historically occupied the centre of the Ram Janmabhoomi and Hindutva movements.

With the yatra scheduled to begin on Vijayadashami, the sharp response from Ayodhya’s seers has already turned Singh’s proposed pilgrimage into a politically charged religious controversy. The dispute also reflects a wider contest over who speaks for Sanatan Dharma and how Hindu religious identity should be represented in India’s public and political life.
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_Inputs from ANI.