The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday staged a protest against Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal’s newly announced ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana.’ The scheme, which promises a monthly honorarium of ₹18,000 to temple priests and Gurudwara granthis, has sparked allegations of being a political ploy ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
Protest Outside Hanuman Temple
BJP workers gathered outside the Hanuman temple on Baba Kharak Singh Marg, accusing Kejriwal of exploiting religious sentiments for electoral gains. “For the last ten years, Kejriwal did not remember the Brahmins. All his announcements are lies. In Punjab, where his government is in power, he has not given a single penny. Here, he promises ₹18,000, but he won’t even give 18 paise. No Brahmins will fall for his dissembling,” said a BJP protester.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj Speaks Out
BJP Lok Sabha MP Bansuri Swaraj criticized Kejriwal for what she termed “Arvind’s appeasement politics.” Speaking at a press conference, she alleged that the announcement was merely an election gimmick.
“We have seen various election slogans, but Kejriwal has introduced a new kind of appeasement. His government hasn’t paid salaries to imams and maulvis for 17 months. Now, he talks about priests and granthis just to garner votes. There is no election model code of conduct in place right now. So why wait until after the elections to implement the scheme?” she questioned.
Swaraj further accused Kejriwal of neglecting religious leaders and places of worship for over a decade and using this scheme as a last-minute attempt to gain favor.
Opposition’s Criticism
The timing of the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana’ has raised eyebrows, with critics pointing to the proximity of its announcement to the Delhi Assembly elections. The BJP alleges that AAP’s promises lack substance and are designed to woo voters from specific religious communities.
AAP’s Stand
While the AAP has yet to formally respond to the BJP’s allegations, party insiders maintain that the scheme reflects the government’s commitment to supporting religious leaders across communities.