Arvind Kejriwal Promises Rs 18,000 Monthly for Hindu, Sikh Priests if AAP Wins Delhi Elections

Amidst controversy surrounding an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) proposal offering a monthly stipend to unemployed women, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal unveiled another initiative ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections. The new program, called the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana,’ promises a monthly honorarium of Rs 18,000 for Hindu and Sikh priests.

During the press conference, the former Delhi Chief Minister said that this scheme would be implemented once the AAP form the government after winning the upcoming polls in the national capital.

Arvind Kejriwal Highlights Historic Scheme to Support Priests and Granthis

“Today I am making an important announcement regarding a scheme. 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 said, ANI reported.

He further added that the priest is a class that has carried forward the rituals from generation to generation and never paid attention to their family.

“This is happening for the first time in the country. The priest is a class that has carried forward the rituals from generation to generation. They never paid attention to their family and we never paid attention to them,” he said.

“We know how pujaris serve us. Be it the birthday of our kid 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 which happened for the very first time. We improved schools and hospitals and made bus travel for women. I just hope that the BJP and the Congress governments will learn from this and will implement such schemes in the state run by them,” he added further.

Imams of Delhi Waqf Board Protest Over 17-Month Salary Delay Outside Kejriwal’s Residence

Meanwhile, Imams of Delhi Waqf Board have been protesting outside the residence of Arvind Kejriwal over the delay in the release of their salaries.

“It has been 17 months and our salaries have not been paid. We have been trying to highlight this for the last 6 months. We have met the CM, the LG and all senior and junior officers. This is why we have all gathered here today… If they do not give us our answers now, we will sit on a protest here and not get up till we get our salaries,” All India Imam Association Chairman Sajid Rashidi said.