Digvijaya Singh stirs controversy with remarks on Muslim underrepresentation

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh found himself at the center of political backlash after claiming that Muslims, despite having literacy rates on par with Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), were underrepresented in government jobs. Singh's statement came during a discussion on the Congress party’s stance on caste-based quotas and the ongoing caste census. His comments triggered sharp criticism, particularly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), adding fuel to the ongoing debates about reservations and representation.

Singh argued that while the educational attainments of Muslims have improved, they still face systemic barriers when it comes to securing government positions compared to SC and ST communities. The Congress veteran further linked this underrepresentation to a broader socio-political bias, calling for stronger affirmative action to rectify these disparities.

The remarks quickly sparked controversy. BJP officials accused Singh of attempting to polarize communities along religious lines. In the midst of these tensions, Singh's verbal attack on Madhya Pradesh BJP President VD Sharma exacerbated the situation. Singh, in a public event, made a controversial comment, expressing disappointment over Sharma's accusation that Singh supports terrorists. His remark, which carried derogatory undertones, drew further ire from BJP leaders, who demanded an apology.