A former BJP spokesperson reacted to PM Modi’s video, where the Prime Minister said he had ‘forgiven’ the young protesters who targeted him with abusive remarks during the recent Cockroach Janta Party-led agitation.
Published: August 1, 2026, 6:24 PM IST
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Shehzad Poonawalla attack PM Modi critics following his late night selfie-style Instagram videoImage Credit: shehzadpoonawalla/Instagram
Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Saturday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s critics, saying that he had ‘failed’ to become a proper dictator.
Taking a sarcastic dig at critics who accuse PM Modi of being dictatorial, Shehzad Poonawalla said Modi has “failed” in that role because he has shown restraint insteadIn an Instagram video, he highlighted Modi’s response to those who allegedly targeted him, constitutional authorities and his late mother, saying the Prime Minister forgave them and referred to them as ‘mischievous’ kids.
The remarks came in reference to PM Modi’s July 31 night video, where he said he chose to “forgive” those who hurled profanities at him during the recent Gen Z-dominated protests led by the Cockroach Janta PartyThe demonstrations had also resulted in pressure on education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who later stepped down.
Poonawalla urges taking inspiration from the Congress
Poonawalla urged PM Modi to take inspiration from the Congress Party and Leader of Opposition Rahul GandhiDespite reportedly leaving the BJP, Poonawalla has remained a vocal supporter of ModiHe contrasted the Prime Minister’s gesture of ‘forgiveness’ with what he described as the approach of the Nehru-Gandhi family.
“Rahul Gandhi is a descendant of Indira Gandhi, of (Jawaharlal) NehruLearn from him what’s real dictatorship, what’s real Emergency,” Poonawalla said, referring to the Congress leader’s grandmother and her father, both ex-PMs, and to the 1975-77 Emergency imposed by Indira as PM“Look at their history!”
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Poonawalla cited several past instances, including the Anna Hazare movement of 2011-12, to make his pointHe also referred to recent police cases in Congress-ruled Kerala and Telangana linked to social media posts and student demonstrations.
“These Left liberals, all their hopes, you have ruined them,” Poonawalla, who has been with the Congress in the past, further saidHe again addressed PM Modi and concluded the video, “You are unable to be a dictatorYou have failed.”
