Shehzad Poonawalla, the fiery BJP communicator, has rechristened the Congress party as ‘Islamabad National Congress’ in response to Mani Shankar Aiyar’s latest foot-in-mouth moment. The veteran Congress MP’s remarks drawing parallels between Indian politics and Pakistan have ignited a fresh political firestorm.
During a recent address, Aiyar lamented what he perceived as the BJP’s ‘Pakistanization’ of India’s discourse. His choice of words, equating domestic debates with those in Islamabad, provided ample ammunition for BJP critics. Within minutes, Poonawalla was on the offensive, declaring Congress’s transformation into a party more aligned with Pakistan’s worldview than India’s.
‘From surgical strikes to Balakot airstrikes, Congress has always questioned India’s decisive actions against Pakistan,’ Poonawalla elaborated in a detailed thread. He listed instances where Congress leaders allegedly sympathized with Pakistan’s narrative, including doubting intelligence inputs and calling for dialogue amid heightened tensions.
This isn’t Aiyar’s first brush with controversy. His past statements, from calling Narendra Modi ‘chaiwala’ to suggesting Pakistan-occupied Kashmir be handed over, have made him a favorite target for BJP. Poonawalla’s witty yet scathing moniker has already gone viral, trending across platforms and drawing cheers from BJP supporters.
Congress spokesperson quickly hit back, accusing Poonawalla of indulging in cheap politics and diverting attention from real issues. Yet, internal voices within the party have expressed frustration over Aiyar’s repeated gaffes, which they believe damage the party’s image ahead of crucial elections.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Congress, grappling with organizational challenges and leadership questions. Poonawalla’s attack reinforces BJP’s narrative of Congress as weak on national security – a message that resonates strongly with voters in border states like Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab.
As digital warriors battle online, the real contest will unfold at the ballot box. For now, Aiyar’s Islamabad reference has handed BJP a memorable soundbite, while Congress scrambles to contain the damage from its loose cannon.
