What Sparked Shehzad Poonawalla's Outrage Over Rahul Gandhi's Parliament Protest?

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has publicly criticized Rahul Gandhi's recent protest in Parliament, which was styled as a street play addressing alleged theft of donations for the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Poonawalla accused Gandhi of targeting Hindu sentiments and questioned the appropriateness of using saffron attire during the protest. He challenged Gandhi to address other financial irregularities involving religious trusts, suggesting that the protest was politically motivated rather than a genuine concern for the issues at hand. The protest, which included other Opposition leaders, aimed to highlight alleged embezzlement of donations, raising questions about the integrity of those involved.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 1, 2026, 10:26 IST

Poonawalla Critiques Rahul Gandhi's Protest Tactics

New Delhi: On Saturday, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla expressed strong disapproval of Rahul Gandhi's recent protest in Parliament, which was styled like a street play and focused on alleged misappropriations of donations meant for the Ayodhya Ram Temple. He accused the Congress leader of undermining Hindu sentiments.

In a post on social media platform X, Poonawalla stated, "Rahul Gandhi is a blatant Hindu hater. Their animosity towards one political party extends to India and its Hindu population."

He shared a video, asserting that while some issues warrant discussion, it is unacceptable to target the entire Hindu community under the pretext of addressing these concerns.

Rahul Gandhi & dynasts like him will always be jokers for me.

Thanks for your attention to this matter. https://t.co/IpP2iaPPSy

— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) August 1, 2026

Commenting on the protest that took place on Parliament grounds, Poonawalla remarked, "The actions of Pappu Yadav, Rahul Gandhi, and other Congress leaders were disgraceful. Pappu Yadav dressed as a 'Sadhu' and performed a satirical skit related to the Ram Temple and the alleged theft case."

He continued, "While it is important to raise such issues, the individuals implicated in the theft, who are currently incarcerated, are neither saints nor individuals in saffron robes. So why was saffron attire used in the protest? Why imply that those in saffron are involved in theft?"

Poonawalla also highlighted the symbolic nature of the performance, stating, "The enactment shows Rahul Gandhi donating, then Pappu Yadav pocketing the money, followed by everyone attacking him."

He challenged Rahul Gandhi, asking, "Numerous instances of alleged financial misconduct have been reported involving Waqf Boards, mosque trusts, and church trusts. Would you dare to dress as a Maulvi and perform a similar act in the Kerala Assembly?"

He added, "If someone were to depict terrorism by featuring a person in a cap as the main character, would you endorse that? Their intent was not solely to address the Ram Temple theft. Previously, they used to chant 'Rom, Rom', and now, for political gain, they have switched to 'Ram, Ram'."

Poonawalla concluded by asserting, "They have never truly believed in Lord Ram's existence. Their faith lies not in religion but in vote-bank politics. For electoral advantage, they consistently attempt to offend Hindu sentiments."

Earlier, on July 31, Opposition MPs, including Purnia MP Pappu Yadav, Leader of the Opposition Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged a unique protest in Parliament regarding the alleged embezzlement of donations made to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The MPs also expressed concern over the absence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah from Parliament.

Pappu Yadav arrived in saffron attire and conducted a street play-like demonstration, carrying a donation box to spotlight the allegations of financial irregularities concerning the Ram Temple donations. During the protest, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi, and other Opposition leaders were seen making symbolic donations into the box.

During the protest, Pappu Yadav raised slogans, accusing those responsible for allegedly misusing funds collected in the name of Lord Ram.

"Ram Ram japiyo re, sab maal hadapiyo re. Man mein Ram, Chintan mein Ram, Kan mein Shiv, Jivan Mein Sanso Mein," he told reporters.