Kejriwal Faces Backlash from Priests Over Launch of 'Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana'

New Delhi, Dec 31 (NationPress) As AAP leader and ex-Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated the 'Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana', a number of priests in the national capital expressed their discontent, stating it resembled a 'lollypop' intended to sway their votes for the Assembly elections.

The AAP National Convenor, Kejriwal, announced on Tuesday that Hindu temple priests and granthis from Gurdwaras in Delhi would be eligible for a monthly honorarium of Rs 18,000 if the party secures victory in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

This initiative was unveiled at the Marghatwale Baba temple near Kashmiri Gate ISBT, just in time for the February polls, eliciting varied responses from the priests in Delhi.

In a post shared on the social media platform X, Kejriwal documented his visit to the Marghatwale Baba’s temple, celebrating the birthday of the Mahant at that location.

“Today I launched the 'Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana'. This is a significant step towards providing support to the religious leaders of our city,” Kejriwal stated. He also mentioned that despite attempts by the BJP to hinder the registration process for the scheme, “no one can prevent a devotee from reaching God.”

Nevertheless, many priests expressed their dissatisfaction with the timing of this announcement, implying that it was more about securing votes than genuinely meeting their needs.

One priest commented to IANS, “It’s commendable that he’s finally considering the priests, but what was he doing over the past decade? This is merely a tactic to sway voters. I doubt he will truly deliver on this promise. He previously allocated funds to maulvis but neglected pujaris and granthis. The situation in Delhi has not improved, and we have been overlooked for years.”

Another priest expressed annoyance, labeling it a 'lollypop' designed to deceive the religious community. “Previously, they failed to provide pensions to the elderly. Kejriwal made numerous promises but never fulfilled them. Now, he’s rolling out these announcements solely for votes. We are not naive, and I’m convinced he doesn’t even know how many temples are in Delhi,” he declared.

A third priest remarked, “Had Kejriwal announced this a year before the Assembly elections, we might have believed in his sincerity. But now it feels like an effort to manipulate us. He has failed to keep past promises, and this scheme appears to be a strategy to gain votes. PM Modi’s government has already made real contributions to temples, while Kejriwal’s promises remain unfulfilled.”

Another priest criticized the announcement, referring to it as a 'jumla' aimed at swaying pujaris and granthis for votes. He recalled Kejriwal’s earlier commitments, such as his pledge not to use a government car or residence, none of which came to fruition.

He remarked, “Kejriwal didn’t aid us during the COVID-19 crisis, and now he proposes Rs 18,000 for priests. We should endorse those who genuinely believe in ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.’”

The Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana is part of AAP’s strategy to appeal to religious leaders ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, which are scheduled for February 2024.