Politics

Digvijaya Singh defends Ujjain-Ayodhya padyatra and links Hindutva to communal divisions

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has defended his decision to undertake a padyatra from Ujjain to Ayodhya at the age of 80. In a video statement, he said age was not an issue and argued that identifying Sanatan Dharma with Hindutva had contributed to divisions among religious communities.

Editor: AI News 24x7 Published: 05 Oct 2026, 09:45 AM Updated: 05 Oct 2026, 09:45 AM

Digvijaya Singh defends Ujjain-Ayodhya padyatra and links Hindutva to communal divisions.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has defended his decision to undertake a padyatra from Ujjain to Ayodhya, describing the journey as a move from Shiv Dham to Ram Dham. He said he was undertaking it at the age of 80 and that age was not an issue for him.

Singh also questioned why people objected to the proposed journey. He said the reason was linked to the way Sanatan Dharma had repeatedly been associated with the word “Hindu”.

Singh's explanation

According to Singh, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Savarkar gave Sanatan Dharma the name “Hindutva”. He said this had created a rift across the country between Hindus and Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs, and Hindus and Christians.

His remarks focused on the relationship between religious identity and political terminology. He presented the padyatra as connected to his view of Sanatan Dharma and its traditions.

Reference to Mahatma Gandhi

Singh cited Mahatma Gandhi as someone who respected Sanatan Dharma and Sanatani traditions. He referred to the devotional message associated with Gandhi: “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram, Ishwar Allah Tere Naam, Sabko Sanmati De Bhagwan”.

The message invokes both Ram and Allah and asks for wisdom for everyone. Singh used it while explaining his view of religious respect and social harmony.

Conclusion

Singh's stated reason for the Ujjain-Ayodhya padyatra is to express his understanding of Sanatan Dharma while questioning the association of the faith with Hindutva and its effect on relations between communities.