BJP's Virendra Sachdeva Raises Concerns Over Kejriwal's 'Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana'
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New Delhi, Dec 30 (NationPress) After AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal revealed a new initiative named 'Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana', Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Monday raised concerns about the timing and intentions behind the program.
A new political debate has surfaced as Kejriwal introduced the 'Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana' on Monday, which proposes a monthly stipend of Rs 18,000 for Hindu and Sikh priests. This announcement, made just days prior to the Assembly elections, has drawn significant backlash from the BJP.
In a discussion with IANS, Sachdeva scrutinized the timing of the scheme and questioned Kejriwal's newfound focus on the welfare of pujaris and granthis.
He highlighted that Kejriwal's administration has been disbursing salaries to various sectors since 2013 but had never previously proposed such a support system for religious figures.
“Kejriwal has been issuing salaries since 2013, so why was there no recognition for pujaris and granthis before?” Sachdeva remarked.
He continued, “The BJP has actively protested for their rights and even demonstrated outside his residence demanding salary for pujaris and granthis. Where was Kejriwal during those times?”
Sachdeva further accused Kejriwal of attempting to sway voters ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. “As elections approach, Kejriwal is making these moves. He believes that appealing to them will be essential since he thinks the support of maulvis won’t suffice. His ‘jhooth ka ghara’ has been unveiled, and everyone perceives the truth now,” he asserted.
The BJP President emphasized that once the BJP assumes power following the elections, they will guarantee the dignity and proper treatment of religious leaders, including pujaris and granthis.
“Under BJP governance, we will honor them with the dignity they deserve,” Sachdeva assured.
Sachdeva also criticized the Delhi government's history of unfulfilled promises, referencing the recent controversy regarding Kejriwal's 'Delhi Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana'.
He questioned, “How many schemes and registrations has Kejriwal announced? He has yet to fulfill any of them. Pujaris and granthis recognize these as mere empty promises that will never be realized.”
In contrast, Kejriwal announced that registration for the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana would commence on Tuesday. This follows the earlier launch of the Mahila Samman Yojana, which aims to provide a Rs 2,100 monthly stipend to unemployed women in Delhi.
However, the scheme encountered a setback when the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department issued a notice asserting that the 'Mahila Samman' scheme was 'non-existent' and urged residents to refrain from sharing personal information.
