Digvijaya Singh uses sadhus to fight Pragya Sadhvi, gives Congress a bold shade of saffron

BHOPAL: Until you saw the party flags that peeked through a sea of saffron, it would be hard to imagine this was a Congress rally. Hundreds of sadhus, led by Namdeo Das Tyagi, also known as Computer Baba, marched the streets of Bhopal on Wednesday in a show of support for Digvijaya Singh, the man who had embarrassed his party some years ago by terming the 2008 killing of Indian Mujahideen terrorists in Delhi's Batla House a "fake encounter".

The Congress's saffron march for Digvijaya lasted about an hour during which sadhus carried placards that said 'Santon ki yahi pukar, badal ke rakh do chowkidaar'.


BJP has branded Digvijaya 'anti-Hindu' for his controversial statements in the past, and has fielded Pragya Thakur who is seeking votes in the name of Hinduism (she did release a vision document for Bhopal on Wednesday).

Spritual leader Computer Baba taking out 'Mega Road Show' in support of Congress Candidate Digvijaya Singh, in Bhopal

The rally of sadhus - with two days left for campaigning to end - seem to be Digvijaya's counterstrike.

Digvijaya walked alongside Computer Baba - who switched to Congress after a brief stint with the BJP administration last year. As the former Madhya Pradesh CM received garlands from his well-wishers, he in turn garlanded Computer Baba.

Addressing bystanders as 'dharma premi, sadbhavana premi' (those who stand for religion and harmony), the sadhus urged them to vote for Digvijaya and "ensure the triumph of truth". "A vote for Digvijaya would be in the interest of Narmada Maiyya and for Gau Mata," they said.

Digvijaya is among a handful to complete the Narmada Parikrama - a walk of 3,500km along the holy river. As the rally passed through narrow lanes and alleys of Old Bhopal, the sadhus continued to appeal to people to vote for Digvijaya to "protect Bhopal's tradition of communal harmony". At one spot, 10-12 young men standing on the roadside shouted: "Modi, Modi."

In the din, the chant went almost unheard, but the Modi supporters were booked for rioting and violating EC's model code of conduct.