New Delhi: Political analyst and former BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla Friday shed light his decision to resign from the party, saying that he had been considering a transition to the private sector after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Poonawalla said he had always intended to return to the private sector after the 2024 elections, but decided to continue working with the BJP for some more time due to the political situation following the polls.
Speaking to IANS, Poonawalla said: “After the 2024 elections, it was in my mind to transition to the private sector. The reason behind this was that when I joined politics in 2021 and became the national spokesperson of the BJP, I had previously been in the media. Before that, I drew a regular salary.”
“I only knew media work and articulation. But when I joined politics and dedicated myself to it 24/7, I calculated how much savings I had and how many years I would be able to sustain working like this. When I realised that remaining active in a political party would only be feasible until the end of 2024, I had already made up my mind,” he said.
He further said that he wanted to re-enter the private sector.
“If you look at my earlier videos and statements, my intention had always been to leave politics after the 2024 elections and re-enter the private sector from where I had come,” Poonawalla added.
However, he said the BJP’s tally of 240 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the political developments that followed made him reconsider his decision.
“Given the post-2024 election situation, where the tally stood at 240, I felt that leaving at that critical juncture would not be right. There were also crucial state elections approaching, and I wanted to contribute as much as I could. Finally, after the Bengal elections, I decided that the time had come to step into the private sector,” he said.
Poonawalla also said that his objective in politics had never been to seek an elected position.
“Secondly, my goal has never been to become an MP or an MLA. I do not work for positions; I work for a mission and a vision. Even today, I continue to work for the mission and vision of the BJP. I do not chase titles or posts; I believe in building stature,” he said.
On the row over the Umar Khalid documentary, Poonawalla criticised those who, according to him, portray Khalid as a hero while questioning the credentials of other prominent Indians.
“They never see a hero or a Nelson Mandela in Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, nor in Ustad Bismillah Khan. They only see one in Umar Khalid. And those shedding tears for Umar Khalid — when the court gave a clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya, they still label her a terrorist simply because she wears saffron. Yet someone whom the courts refuse to release is still portrayed by them as a martyr and innocent,” he said.
He quipped that the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, can become PM, but of Pakistan.
“Rahul Gandhi can become Prime Minister but perhaps of Pakistan. If he prefers, of Italy, or whichever country he frequently visits, like Bangkok — if he wishes to take citizenship there, he could become Prime Minister there, since he spends most of his time abroad anyway. In India, he only visits briefly between his vacations. He could certainly become Prime Minister of those countries, but here, in 2029, Narendra Modi will be re-elected Prime Minister with an even bigger margin. In 2034, if he decides to contest, he will become Prime Minister in 2034 as well. In 2027, Yogi Adityanath will return with an even greater margin than the BJP received in 2017,” he claimed.
On actor Swara Bhasker’s remarks regarding the Ram Janmabhoomi verdict, Poonawalla criticised her views and said the Supreme Court verdict should be respected.
“Swara Bhasker, please stop now! Because this anti-Hindu stance, anti-national rhetoric and constant belittling of Hindus must end. The verdict on the Ram Mandir came through the Supreme Court — and these people claim to champion ‘saving the Constitution.’ Do Rahul Gandhi and Swara Bhasker believe that the wisdom of the Supreme Court was flawed?” he said.
Recently, Swara Bhasker has revealed that when the Ram Janmabhoomi verdict was announced, she reached out to superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan to express her solidarity. She said she felt ashamed and, as such, reached out to all the Muslims she knew to tell them that she didn’t agree with the verdict.
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