BHOPAL: Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh late on Friday night shot a letter to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan informing that he would surrender before the police in TT Nagar police station here on Wednesday. “For the unity and integrity of the nation, I have decided to surrender before law,” Digvijaya Singh wrote in his letter to Chouhan. “Wanted to inform you that on 26/07/2018, I will present myself before the TT Nagar police.”

Singh’s decision to surrender before the police came after chief minister Chouhan called him a “traitor” while speaking to reporters in Satna during the Jan Ashirwad Yatra on Thursday. Chouhan had said, “Digvijaya Singh behaves like a traitor. He is depressed and on many occasions he speaks in support of terrorists while attacking our culture and tradition.”

A day after Chouhan’s “traitor” statement, Digvijaya Singh retaliated with the letter. He wrote, “You have accused me of being a traitor. You are the chief minister and it is your constitutional responsibility to keep the nation’s unity and integrity safe within the borders of this state. If in your knowledge there is any such anti-national attempt, then it is your duty to undertake administrative and legal proceedings.”

He said that by just giving a statement, Chouhan is deviating from his constitutional duties and endangering the country. “Traitor is a serious allegation and as former chief minister of the state, it is my advise to you not to take any such case of a defector lightly,” the letter said. The former chief minister reminded Chouhan that he held several constitutional posts including being a minister, MLA, MP and chief minister.

“You are presently the chief minister and have the police and government machinery at your disposal. If you have any evidence of my being a traitor, then fulfil your responsibilities,” Digvijaya Singh wrote. He asked Chouhan to provide all evidence that he has to the administration “so that a case can be registered” and the Congress leader can be arrested without any legal hassles.

“And if you have no proof of my being a traitor, then apologise publicly, unconditionally and without delay,” the letter said.

