MP: Digvijaya snubs MLA brother at protest in front of home

A family drama played out in Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal on Tuesday involving senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and his younger brother and MLA Lakshman Singh during a sit-in protest in front of the former's home.

Lakshman Singh and his supporters were protesting in front of Digvijaya's residence here demanding that the senior Congressman set a date for a function to announce the creation of Chachoda district.

Chachoda is Lakshman Singh's Assembly seat and Chief Minister Kamal Nath had, on July 26 this year, proclaimed that his government would make it a district.

Chachoda is part of Rajgarh Lok Sabha constituency which was represented by Digvijaya several times.

While protesters led by Lakshman Singh sang Gandhiji's favourite bhajan 'Vaishnav Jan Te' in front of the former CM's bungalow, Digvijaya appeared at the scene but ignored his younger sibling and went inside.

"Digvijayaji should offer a date on which we can have a grand function at Chachoda to proclaim it as a district. People there are very happy that it is going to be a district. Bhai saheb (Digvijaya) has also represented Chachoda Assembly seat several times," Lakshman Singh told reporters.

However, Lakshman Singh also added that Digvijaya had not been to Chachoda for the past eight years, and in an apparent taunt, claimed "people there want to welcome him".

The MLA though was quick to add that Digvijaya "is my brother and will always remain my brother", claiming he wanted to hold the function as people there wanted to welcome and felicitate Nath and Digvijaya.

On being queried on why he was not protesting in front of Nath's residence, Lakshman Singh said it was not needed as the MP CM had already backed the district demand by making a public announcement on July 26.

Asked why Digvijaya had not met him, Lakshman Singh said the former was "too busy nowadays" but went on to claim "there are people who are creating differences between Digvijayaji and his people and the family".

He asked the media to find out who these people were who had created a chasm between a popular leader (Digvijaya) and his people.

Despite asserting earlier that the protest would continue till a date was offered, Lakshman Singh and his supporters soon called it off and left, and then refused to take calls from the media.