AAP's ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana’ Sparks Political Controversy

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by national convener Arvind Kejriwal, recently unveiled the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana,’ promising a monthly allowance of ₹18,000 for temple priests and gurdwara granthis in Delhi. This announcement, ahead of the assembly elections, has ignited a fierce political debate, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress criticizing the move as an electoral gimmick.

Kejriwal officially launched the scheme by registering the priest of the Marghat Wale Baba temple near Kashmere Gate ISBT. Chief Minister Atishi followed suit, visiting a gurdwara in Karol Bagh to facilitate registrations. AAP leaders have stated that similar registration drives will be conducted across Delhi.

The BJP quickly retaliated, mocking Kejriwal with a poster on social media, labeling him a "chunavi Hindu" (Hindu for electoral purposes) and accusing him of politicizing religion. BJP leaders, including Bansuri Swaraj and Gaurav Bhatia, alleged that the scheme is merely a populist announcement and highlighted the government’s inability to pay allowances to imams for months due to fund shortages. Former MP Parvesh Verma criticized Kejriwal for neglecting pressing issues like water supply, pollution, and infrastructure in the capital.

AAP, on the other hand, launched its own counteroffensive, challenging the BJP to introduce similar schemes in the 20 states it governs. Kejriwal defended the initiative, asserting that it is a tribute to the spiritual and cultural contributions of priests and granthis. In a social media post, he emphasized that the BJP’s opposition to the scheme would be tantamount to "sinful" behavior, urging them to follow Delhi’s lead.

Despite the announcement, questions about the scheme’s execution persist. Kejriwal admitted that there are no official statistics on the number of priests and granthis eligible for the allowance, as their exact numbers will be determined after the registration process. Opposition parties, including the BJP and Congress, have dismissed the scheme as a hollow promise lacking the necessary groundwork.

The scheme has also drawn criticism from imams and muazzins of Waqf Board-registered mosques, who protested near Kejriwal’s residence over pending salaries. While the Delhi government currently pays ₹18,000 to imams and ₹16,000 to muazzins, opposition leaders claimed these commitments remain unfulfilled, further casting doubt on the new scheme’s feasibility.

Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav labeled the initiative as "trickery," accusing Kejriwal of attempting to reclaim lost political ground with pre-election freebies. BJP Delhi unit chief Veerendra Sachdeva described the AAP leader as "desperate" and questioned the lack of official data on the beneficiaries.

Amidst the controversy, AAP maintains that the scheme is a genuine effort to honor religious leaders and preserve cultural heritage. However, with the election season underway, the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana’ has become another focal point in the increasingly polarized political battle in Delhi.