BJP's Hussain: 'Nothing left for Kejriwal in politics' over religious row
Synopsis
BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain declared Kejriwal's political credibility zero as a row over the Sundarkand recitation drew in an Ayodhya saint who called for barring Opposition leaders from the temple city. The spat exposes how religion has become the primary proxy battlefield between the BJP and the AAP ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Key Takeaways
BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on 13 July said Arvind Kejriwal 's political credibility has fallen to zero and accused him of exploiting religion before elections.
Ayodhya saint Vishnu Das Maharaj called for barring Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi , and Akhilesh Yadav from entering Ayodhya, accusing them of politicising faith.
The row was triggered after Kejriwal posted on social media that those opposing the Sundarkand recitation have demonic tendencies.
Hussain alleged that the AAP -led Punjab government's Chief Minister faces accusations of insulting religious scriptures.
Both the BJP and the AAP are accused by critics of leveraging faith to consolidate voter bases ahead of upcoming electoral contests.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Monday, 13 July launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, alleging that the former Delhi Chief Minister has lost all political credibility and resorts to religious posturing only when elections draw near. The remarks came amid a widening war of words between the BJP and the AAP over public expressions of faith and the recitation of the Sundarkand.
What Hussain Said
Reacting to the ongoing political exchanges over religion, Hussain accused Kejriwal and the AAP of exploiting matters of faith for electoral advantage. 'There is nothing left for Arvind Kejriwal in politics. His credibility has fallen to zero. When he was in power in Delhi, he and his party worked to loot the city,' Hussain said. He further alleged that the AAP's current leadership in Punjab is itself facing accusations of insulting religious scriptures. 'They have no real concern for religion. Whenever elections approach, they suddenly start engaging in religious rituals and worship,' he added.
Ayodhya Saint Joins the Criticism
Ayodhya saint Vishnu Das Maharaj also trained his sights on Kejriwal and several Opposition leaders, accusing them of politicising matters connected with religion and the Ram Temple. Speaking in Ayodhya, Vishnu Das Maharaj said, 'Akhilesh Yadav has never stood with the Ram Mandir; he has stood with the Babri Masjid.' He went further, alleging that those who admired Babur and Aurangzeb are now claiming to have faith in Lord Ram. The saint contended that leaders engaging in what he termed dirty politics over faith — naming Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav — should not be allowed to enter Ayodhya.
What Triggered the Row
The exchange escalated after Kejriwal, on Sunday, 12 July, responded to the Delhi BJP's criticism of an AAP-organised religious event. In a post on social media, Kejriwal wrote that Lord Rama had said those with demonic tendencies would oppose the recitation of the Sundarakanda in Kaliyuga. The remark sharpened the confrontation, effectively casting critics of the event as opponents of religious tradition.
The Broader Political Context
This is not the first time religion has become a flashpoint between the BJP and the AAP ahead of electoral cycles. Critics argue that both sides are leveraging faith to consolidate voter bases, with the BJP historically dominant on the Hindu nationalist plank and the AAP increasingly seeking to counter that narrative through visible religious outreach. The AAP's Punjab government faces its own political vulnerabilities, which opposition leaders have sought to amplify. The intensifying rhetoric signals that religion is set to remain a central battleground as upcoming electoral contests approach.
Point of View
Having lost Delhi and under pressure in Punjab, is visibly moving onto the BJP's religious terrain. That is a high-risk gambit — it concedes the BJP's framing while offering no structural advantage. Hussain's credibility-zero line is sharp precisely because it reframes the AAP's outreach not as faith but as desperation. What mainstream coverage misses is that the Ayodhya saint's call to physically bar Opposition leaders from the temple city escalates the rhetoric well beyond political point-scoring and warrants scrutiny on its own terms.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain attack Arvind Kejriwal on 13 July?
Hussain accused Kejriwal of having lost political credibility and turning to religious issues only when elections approach. He alleged the AAP exploited matters of faith for electoral gain and that its Punjab government was itself facing allegations of insulting religious scriptures.
What is the Sundarkand controversy between the BJP and the AAP?
The row centres on an AAP-organised event involving the recitation of the Sundarkand, a chapter from the Ramcharitmanas. The Delhi BJP criticised the event, and Kejriwal responded on social media by invoking a verse suggesting those opposing the recitation have demonic tendencies, sharply escalating the exchange.
What did Ayodhya saint Vishnu Das Maharaj say about Kejriwal and Opposition leaders?
Vishnu Das Maharaj accused Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav of politicising religion and the Ram Temple. He said leaders engaging in what he called dirty politics over faith should not be allowed to enter Ayodhya.
How does this row fit into the broader BJP-AAP political rivalry?
Religion has repeatedly become a flashpoint between the two parties ahead of elections. The AAP's visible religious outreach is seen as an attempt to counter the BJP's dominant Hindu nationalist positioning, though critics argue it risks ceding the BJP's own framing rather than offering an alternative.
What did Arvind Kejriwal post on social media that triggered the latest exchange?
On 12 July, Kejriwal posted that Lord Rama had said those with demonic tendencies would oppose the recitation of the Sundarakanda in Kaliyuga, a remark directed at the Delhi BJP's criticism of the AAP's religious event.
