Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal today unveiled the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana,’ a scheme promising a monthly allowance of Rs 18,000 to Hindu temple priests (pujaris) and Sikh gurdwara granthis if AAP is re-elected in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
“Pujaris and granthis are an integral part of our society. They’ve selflessly served the community for generations, often at the expense of their own families. This scheme is our way of honouring their contributions,” Kejriwal said at a press conference.
Seeking a fourth consecutive term for AAP, Kejriwal announced that registration for the scheme would begin immediately, with the first phase set to take place at Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place on Tuesday.
The announcement comes as AAP gears up to face off against the BJP and Congress in the elections. Kejriwal took a swipe at both parties, urging them to introduce similar welfare measures in their states.
“We know how pujaris serve us. Be it the birthday of our child or the death of a loved one, they have always connected us with God. But they never gave attention to their own families, and neither did we pay enough attention to them. This is happening for the first time in the country. We have done many works in the national capital that happened for the very first time. We improved schools, hospitals, and made bus travel free for women. I hope the BJP and Congress governments will learn from this and implement similar schemes in their states,” Kejriwal added.
However, the announcement has sparked controversy. On the same day, imams affiliated with the Delhi Waqf Board staged a protest outside Kejriwal’s residence, demanding overdue salaries. The All India Imam Association claimed that imams had not been paid for 17 months and accused the Delhi government of neglecting their concerns.
