Notice issued to Digvijaya Singh for giving alms to beggars after temple visit

BHOPAL: Senior Congress leader and party candidate from Bhopal constituency, Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday was served a notice by the district administration of Sehore after a video went viral three days ago showing him distributing money to beggars outside a temple.
The state BJP on Saturday had complained alleging violation of model mode of conduct to the Election Commission.The former chief minister has to file his reply latest by April 9.
District collector Sehore Ganesh Shankar Mishra said that, Digvijaya Singh is a candidate contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Bhopal seat. Sehore, where the incident occurred last Friday, also comes under Bhopal parliamentary seat. The district collector explained, "The model code of conduct is in effect and any candidate or political party paying money for no apparent reason is violation of the model code of conduct. The BJP had lodged a complaint on the matter."
SDM Varun Kumar Awasthi taking cognizance of the incident issued a notice to Digvijaya Singh asking for his explanation.
Last Friday, Digvijaya Singh was scheduled to hold a party workers’ meeting at Raj Garden in Lunia Chouraha of Sehore. But before attending the meeting, he stopped to offer prayers at the Chantaman Ganesh temple in the same town. After offering prayers he came out from the temple and was seen handing Rs 20 notes to some women beggars.
The video showing him giving money went viral and the next day, state BJP vice-president Vijesh Lunawat took the matter to the election Commission.
State Congress on Tuesday defended Digvijaya Singh and argued the incident does not come under the category of violation of model code of conduct. Speaking to TOI, state Congress media department convener Narendra Saluja said, "This incident doesn’t qualify to be a violation of model code of conduct. In the Indian tradition and culture, any religious person visiting a temple does some charity by helping needy persons. This is BJP’s degraded mentality that they see model code of conduct violation in a religious tradition. Maybe, the BJP does not believe in helping the poor and needy sitting outside temples."
State BJP vice-president Vijesh Lunawat retaliated saying, "Dirty tricks played by Digvijaya Singh is not going to work in Bhopal. To get votes,he is trying new tricks every day. He is visiting temples by day and dargahs by night. The man who accosted Hindus and RSS for years, has suddenly turned pro-Hindu. In a democracy during elections, political parties have to abide by the law, EC and model code of Conduct – all of which is being disregarded by the Congress party."