BJP MP Manoj Tiwari targets Kejriwal over Sundarkand, Krishna Janmabhoomi
Synopsis
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari's 'chunavi Hindu' jab at Kejriwal cuts to the heart of a widening political battle over religious authenticity. The AAP's Sundarkand-led campaign on Ram Temple donation irregularities has handed the BJP a counter-narrative — and Tiwari's Krishna Janmabhoomi reference signals the party intends to widen the front beyond Ayodhya.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on 15 July called Arvind Kejriwal a 'chunavi Hindu', alleging his religious outreach is election-driven.
Tiwari claimed a true Sundarkand devotee could never oppose the Mathura Shri Krishna Bhoomi temple construction.
The AAP launched a nationwide signature campaign demanding strict action over alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple, Ayodhya , inaugurated with a Sundarkand recitation in Rohini, Delhi .
Kejriwal appealed to citizens to sign letters addressed to PM Narendra Modi seeking accountability for alleged 'chanda-chori'.
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra labelled Kejriwal's participation a 'political gimmick' amounting to 'hypocritical devotion'.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday, 15 July launched a pointed attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal, questioning the sincerity of Kejriwal's religious outreach following his participation in a Sundarkand recitation and the AAP's campaign over the alleged Ram Temple donation theft case in Ayodhya. Tiwari accused Kejriwal of being a 'chunavi Hindu' — a term implying devotion that surfaces only around elections.
What Tiwari Said
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Tiwari alleged that Kejriwal's expressions of faith were politically driven and contradicted his party's positions on Hindu religious sites. 'Arvind Kejriwal is a ‘chunavi Hindu’. He is not a Hindu the rest of the time; in fact, the rest of the time, he is against Hindus and their religious beliefs. If he is really a Sundar Kand supporter, then such a person can never oppose Mathura Shri Krishna Bhoomi temple construction,' Tiwari said.
The remarks represent a broader BJP effort to frame the AAP's religious campaigning as opportunistic rather than genuine — a line of attack that has intensified as the AAP seeks to reconnect with voters ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
The AAP Campaign That Triggered the Row
Earlier this week, the Aam Aadmi Party launched a nationwide signature campaign demanding strict punishment for those allegedly involved in donation-related irregularities at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The campaign was inaugurated with a Sundarkand recitation at Rohini in Delhi, held in the presence of Arvind Kejriwal.
Sundarkand is a revered chapter of the Ramcharitmanas dedicated to Lord Hanuman and is widely recited by devotees across India. Kejriwal stated that the campaign had been initiated with the blessings of Lord Hanuman and appealed to citizens to sign letters addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking stringent action against those responsible for what the AAP has termed 'chanda-chori' (donation theft) at the Ram Temple.
According to the party, the campaign aims to build public support for a transparent investigation and strict accountability for anyone found guilty in the alleged irregularities.
BJP Dismisses Campaign as Political Gimmick
The BJP has categorically dismissed the AAP's initiative as politically motivated. Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra criticised Kejriwal's participation in the Sundarkand recitation, describing it as a 'political gimmick' aimed at reviving his political fortunes. Malhotra further accused the former Delhi Chief Minister of 'insulting' the Hindu faith through what he termed 'hypocritical devotion' in the name of Lord Hanuman and the Sundarkand Paath.
The Broader Political Context
The exchange is the latest flashpoint in an ongoing political war of words between the BJP and AAP over religious identity and the Ram Temple. This comes amid heightened competition for Hindu voter sentiment in Delhi and nationally, with both parties seeking to position themselves as credible voices on issues of faith and temple governance.
Notably, the AAP's decision to frame the Ram Temple donation controversy as a corruption issue — rather than a religious one — has drawn sharp reactions from the BJP, which views any scrutiny of the temple trust as an attack on a project it considers a defining achievement of its governance. Whether the AAP's campaign gains traction beyond its core base will likely depend on whether the alleged donation irregularities receive independent scrutiny in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
But Tiwari's specific invocation of the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple is a deliberate escalation — it ties Kejriwal not just to one controversy but to a whole spectrum of temple disputes the BJP intends to own electorally. The AAP, meanwhile, is attempting a difficult manoeuvre: presenting the Ram Temple donation controversy as a corruption issue without being seen as anti-temple. That distinction is politically fragile, and the BJP knows it. What is missing from mainstream coverage is any independent verification of the alleged donation irregularities — without that, both parties are essentially performing for their respective bases rather than advancing accountability.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP MP Manoj Tiwari say about Arvind Kejriwal on 15 July?
Tiwari called Kejriwal a 'chunavi Hindu', alleging his religious devotion surfaces only around elections. He also said a genuine Sundarkand devotee could never oppose the construction of the Mathura Shri Krishna Bhoomi temple, linking Kejriwal's political positions to alleged inconsistency on Hindu religious sites.
What is the AAP's Ram Temple donation theft campaign?
The AAP launched a nationwide signature campaign demanding strict punishment for those allegedly involved in donation irregularities at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, which the party has termed 'chanda-chori' or donation theft. The campaign was inaugurated with a Sundarkand recitation in Rohini, Delhi, in the presence of Arvind Kejriwal.
Why did Kejriwal participate in the Sundarkand recitation?
Kejriwal participated in the Sundarkand recitation to launch the AAP's signature campaign, stating it was initiated with the blessings of Lord Hanuman. He appealed to citizens to sign letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking accountability for the alleged temple donation irregularities.
How has the BJP responded to the AAP's campaign?
The BJP has dismissed the campaign as politically motivated. Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra called it a 'political gimmick' aimed at reviving Kejriwal's political fortunes, and accused him of displaying 'hypocritical devotion' by invoking Lord Hanuman and the Sundarkand Paath.
What is the significance of the Krishna Janmabhoomi reference in Tiwari's remarks?
By invoking the Mathura Shri Krishna Bhoomi temple, Tiwari sought to extend the attack beyond the Ram Temple controversy, implying that Kejriwal's party has historically opposed Hindu temple causes. It signals the BJP's intent to frame the AAP's religious outreach as selectively opportunistic across multiple temple disputes.
