Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday unveiled a new welfare initiative, the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana,’ under which temple priests and Gurudwara granthis will receive a monthly honorarium of approximately Rs 18,000. The announcement comes just two months before the Delhi Assembly elections, signaling a strategic move by AAP to consolidate support among religious communities.
Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal emphasized the significance of the scheme, stating, “The name of the scheme is Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. Under this, there is a provision to give an honorarium to the priests of temples and the ‘granthis’ of the Gurudwara. They will be given an honorarium of about Rs 18,000 per month.”
Kejriwal highlighted the historical neglect of religious clergy, saying, “This is happening for the first time in the country. The priest is a class that has carried forward rituals from generation to generation. They never paid attention to their family, and we never paid attention to them.”
The announcement comes amidst a political row over the AAP’s earlier initiative, the ‘Mahila Samman Yojana.’ This scheme, promising a monthly allowance of Rs 2,100 to eligible women, has drawn criticism and allegations of impropriety. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recently ordered a probe into complaints raised by Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit. The allegations include fraudulent data collection under the guise of the Mahila Samman Yojana and purported financial irregularities aimed at influencing the upcoming elections.
Dikshit’s complaints also mentioned the presence of Punjab intelligence officers near the homes of Congress candidates and allegations of cash transfers from Punjab to Delhi. These claims have intensified scrutiny on the AAP government’s pre-election initiatives.
With the announcement of the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana, Kejriwal aims to address a new constituency of religious leaders and their communities. However, opposition parties have accused the AAP of using state resources for electoral gains.
