Mon Dec 30 09:44:47 UTC 2024: ## Kejriwal Announces Monthly Allowance for Delhi Priests, Sparks Controversy
**New Delhi:** Ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal announced the “Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana,” promising a monthly allowance of ₹18,000 to Hindu temple priests and Sikh gurdwara granthis if AAP is re-elected. Kejriwal framed the scheme as a recognition of their selfless service to the community. Registration for the scheme will begin immediately, with Kejriwal planning a visit to Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place on Tuesday to oversee the launch.
The announcement, however, has been met with mixed reactions. While Kejriwal urged the BJP and Congress to replicate the scheme in other states, the Delhi BJP chief, Virendra Sachdeva, countered that the BJP had long advocated for priest salaries and had even filed a High Court petition in 2022. Sachdeva questioned AAP’s timing, asking why the initiative wasn’t implemented during their previous eight years in power.
Adding to the controversy, imams affiliated with the Delhi Waqf Board protested outside Kejriwal’s residence on the same day, demanding overdue salaries. The All India Imam Association alleged that imams haven’t received payment for 17 months, accusing the Delhi government of neglecting their needs. This highlights a potential criticism of the AAP government’s selective approach to religious community welfare. The contrasting situations underscore a larger debate surrounding the government’s responsibilities towards religious communities in Delhi.
First Piper 