Digvijaya Singh, Usha Thakur clash over Sanatan Dharma in Indore
Synopsis
A Congress veteran challenged a BJP leader on her own Sanatan credentials — in public, at the same venue, on the same day. Digvijaya Singh's pointed questions about Narmada Parikrama and Ekadashi fasting flipped the usual script: it was the Congress leader asserting deeper personal religious practice, not the BJP's. The video going viral signals how fiercely both parties are now competing for ownership of the Sanatan identity.
Key Takeaways
Digvijaya Singh and Usha Thakur engaged in a face-to-face debate on Sanatan Dharma at Residency Kothi, Indore , on 16 May .
Singh challenged Thakur on personal religious observance, asking whether she had performed the Narmada Parikrama or observed the Ekadashi fast — Thakur indicated she had not.
Singh asserted, 'I am a follower of Sanatan Dharma,' claiming he has publicly acknowledged this on numerous past occasions.
Thakur argued that public figures should openly embrace their religious identities, a longstanding BJP cultural position.
Both leaders discussed a recent High Court verdict and affirmed respect for the judiciary's decision.
Video of the exchange went viral across social media platforms.
Senior Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former minister Usha Thakur engaged in a rare, candid public exchange over Sanatan Dharma and religious identity at Residency Kothi, Indore, on Saturday, 16 May. The impromptu debate — captured on video and now circulating widely — offered an unusual moment of cross-party dialogue on one of India's most politically charged cultural subjects.
How the Exchange Unfolded
Digvijaya Singh was at Residency Kothi when a large contingent of Congress workers arrived to meet him. Usha Thakur also reached the venue and began engaging those workers in a discussion on Sanatan Dharma. Singh then stepped in, turning the conversation into a direct debate with the BJP leader.
Singh told Thakur, 'I am a follower of Sanatan Dharma. You used to simply chant 'Hindu, Hindu' earlier; it was only at my urging that you embraced Sanatan Dharma.' He pressed further, asking, 'I am every bit a Sanatani... Have you ever performed the Narmada Parikrama? Do you observe the Ekadashi fast?' Thakur responded by shaking her head in the negative.
Thakur's Response and Her Position
Rather than escalating the confrontation, Usha Thakur replied with relative deference: 'You are like an elder brother, and while you are a staunch Sanatani in your personal life, you do not acknowledge it publicly.' Singh countered immediately: 'But I am acknowledging it right here, in public.'
Thakur argued that Sanatan Dharma extends beyond rituals and worship, describing it as the foundational bedrock of the Indian way of life. She maintained that individuals in public life should openly acknowledge their religious identities — a position that has long been central to the BJP's cultural messaging.
Singh's Claims on Sanatan Identity
Digvijaya Singh asserted that he has consistently identified as a follower of Sanatan Dharma and has said so publicly on multiple past occasions. He described the Sanatan tradition as the very soul of India, deeply intertwined with centuries of cultural heritage. Singh added that in his personal life he observes religious traditions with complete faith and devotion — citing practices such as fasting and worship rituals as evidence.
This comes amid a broader national debate in which the Congress and BJP have repeatedly sparred over which party better represents Hindu and Sanatan values. For Singh, a leader frequently targeted by the BJP for being insufficiently Hindu, the public assertion carries pointed political weight.
Tone, Banter, and a High Court Reference
Despite the political undertones, observers noted moments of lighthearted banter between the two leaders. Both listened to each other attentively and articulated their views respectfully. The discussion also briefly touched upon a recent High Court verdict, with both leaders affirming their commitment to upholding the judiciary's decision, though specifics of the verdict were not elaborated upon publicly.
Video Goes Viral
Footage of the exchange spread rapidly across social media platforms, drawing attention for its rarity — a Congress veteran and a BJP leader debating religious identity face-to-face, in public, without the usual acrimony. The viral spread underscores the continued potency of Sanatan Dharma as a political and cultural flashpoint ahead of future electoral cycles in Madhya Pradesh.
Point of View
And Singh's Indore performance fits that pattern. What is missing from coverage is the specific High Court verdict both leaders referenced but declined to elaborate on — that detail may carry more political consequence than the Sanatan sparring itself. The viral spread also reveals how effectively religious identity debates travel on social media, regardless of which party initiates them.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Digvijaya Singh and Usha Thakur debate in Indore?
The two leaders debated Sanatan Dharma and religious identity at Residency Kothi in Indore on 16 May. Singh questioned Thakur's personal religious observance, while Thakur argued that public figures should openly acknowledge their religious identities.
What did Digvijaya Singh say about his own Sanatan Dharma beliefs?
Singh declared, 'I am a follower of Sanatan Dharma,' and said he has acknowledged this publicly on multiple past occasions. He described the Sanatan tradition as the soul of India and said he observes religious practices such as fasting with complete faith in his personal life.
Why is the exchange politically significant?
Digvijaya Singh has frequently been targeted by the BJP for being insufficiently Hindu. His public assertion of Sanatani identity — and his challenge to a BJP leader's personal religious practice — represents a deliberate attempt by the Congress to contest the BJP's ownership of Hindu and Sanatan cultural identity.
Who is Usha Thakur and what was her position in the debate?
Usha Thakur is a BJP leader and former minister from Madhya Pradesh. In the exchange, she argued that Sanatan Dharma is the foundational bedrock of Indian culture and that public figures should openly embrace their religious identities. She acknowledged Singh as a personally devout Sanatani but said he does not acknowledge it publicly.
What happened to the video of the exchange?
Video footage of the debate spread rapidly across social media platforms and went viral, drawing wide attention for the unusual spectacle of a Congress and BJP leader debating religious identity respectfully and face-to-face in a public setting.
