BJP Flags Pakistan's 'Mosque Demolition' Misinfo, Takes 'Rawalpindi Alliance' Jibe At Opposition

Last Updated:January 09, 2026, 09:08 IST

Delhi government ministers and police officials have repeatedly clarified that the mosque itself was untouched and stands with full respect.

Shehzad Poonawalla has hit out at those claiming the Faiz-e-Ilahi mosque has been demolished. (Image: PTI)

In the midst of a controversy over a demolition drive near the historic Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque in Delhi’s Turkman Gate area, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly rebutted the Opposition and critics who alleged that the mosque itself had been demolished. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, posting a video of Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson claiming the same, has hit out at the Opposition, calling the INDI alliance “Rawalpindi alliance" after the Opposition made the same claims. Poonawalla categorically rejected the allegations, calling them “fakery, propaganda and incitement" and asserting that no damage whatsoever was caused to the mosque, contrary to what critics alleged.

The controversy stems from a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) drive, directed by the Delhi High Court, to remove unauthorised commercial structures — such as a diagnostic center and wedding hall — adjacent to the mosque. Delhi government ministers and police officials have repeatedly clarified that the mosque itself was untouched and stands with full respect. “The Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque is intact. There was no damage to the religious structure," Delhi Minister Ashish Sood told reporters.

Speaking to the media, Poonawalla said it was now “clear as daylight" that a false narrative was deliberately peddled to portray a lawful anti-encroachment action as an attack on a religious structure. “The entire fakery and propaganda that was being spread — that the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque was demolished or that Muslims were being targeted — stands completely exposed," he said, emphasising that only illegal encroachments were removed under court orders.

Poonawalla alleged that the misinformation campaign was not accidental but orchestrated. He claimed the narrative was “picked up and lapped up by Pakistan," raising questions about its origin. “Now it seems the direction and the script came from somewhere else, and the opposition was merely narrating that script," he said, adding that the “sur and taal" — or coordination — between Pakistan and opposition leaders was evident.

Drawing parallels with previous national security issues, Poonawalla said this alignment had been witnessed earlier as well. “This is not the first time the sur and taal has matched — be it the abrogation of Article 370, the CAA, surgical strikes or the Balakot airstrikes. Every time, the opposition’s narrative and Pakistan’s propaganda sound the same," he remarked.

Taking a swipe, the BJP spokesperson said some leaders appear to believe that “LoP does not mean Leader of Opposition, but Leader of Propaganda for Pakistan." According to him, opposition parties spread misinformation domestically, which is then amplified by Pakistan to push claims of “Islamophobia in India" on international platforms.

Poonawalla further accused parties including the Congress, TMC, Left and Samajwadi Party of ignoring clear court directives and instead fuelling unrest. He alleged that provocations were encouraged, stone-pelting incidents were shielded, and falsehoods were deliberately amplified. “Now that same propaganda has found a platform in Pakistan," he said.

Escalating his attack, Poonawalla remarked that the Congress should be renamed the “Islamabad Congress," alleging links with Pakistan’s power centres. “This is not the INDIA alliance, this is the Rawalpindi alliance," he said, reiterating BJP’s claim that the opposition is undermining India’s image using false narratives.

News politics BJP Flags Pakistan's 'Mosque Demolition' Misinfo, Takes 'Rawalpindi Alliance' Jibe At Opposition

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