New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its criticism of the recently announced Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana, a scheme aimed at providing an honorarium to priests and granthis in Delhi. The scheme, which will be launched today, will offer an honorarium of approximately Rs 18,000 per month to priests at temples and granthis at Gurudwaras across the national capital.  

Kejriwal, taking to social media platform X, questioned the BJP’s stance on the scheme and highlighted the contrast between their criticisms and their lack of similar initiatives in states under BJP rule.

“BJP people have been abusing me since yesterday, ever since the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana was announced. My question to them is, will the country benefit from abusing me? You have governments in 20 states. You have been in power in Gujarat for 30 years. Why haven't you respected the priests and granthis there till now? Come on, do it now. I have shown the way to everyone. Instead of abusing me, why don't you implement it in your 20 states, then everyone will benefit?" Kejriwal said.  

The AAP National Convenor stressed that the initiative was a step towards acknowledging the contributions of religious leaders and asserted that the BJP should focus on replicating such welfare measures in its own states rather than attacking his government.  

BJP’s criticism 

The BJP, however, did not hold back in its criticism of Kejriwal’s announcement, with Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva accusing the AAP leader of using "populist measures" to gain political advantage ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections in 2025.

"Arvind Kejriwal is now a defeated and desperate leader, making populist announcements to stay in power," Sachdeva stated, adding that the announcement of the scheme was merely a political gimmick.  

On Tuesday, the Delhi BJP escalated its attack, accusing Kejriwal of opportunistically embracing Hinduism in the run-up to elections. A poster shared by the party referred to Kejriwal as a “Chunavi Hindu” (election-time Hindu), suggesting that his newfound interest in supporting priests and granthis was nothing more than a ploy to woo Hindu voters. The BJP’s poster depicted Kejriwal adorned with rudraksha beads and flower garlands, with the caption: "Mandir Jana hai bas mere liye ek chalaava, pujariyon ka samman bas mera chunavi dikhava, sanatan dharma ka maine humesh mazak banaya" (Visiting temples is only a deception tactic, respecting priests is a poll gimmick, and I have always made fun of Hindu Dharma).  

AAP’s stand on the scheme 

Despite the criticism, Kejriwal remained steadfast in his commitment to the scheme, which he claimed would set a precedent for the respect and welfare of religious leaders. He emphasized that the initiative was part of his government’s broader efforts to improve the lives of all Delhiites, regardless of their religious backgrounds.  

In a symbolic gesture, Kejriwal, along with his wife Sunita Kejriwal, is set to launch the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana from the Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place, while Delhi Chief Minister Atishi will oversee the scheme’s launch from the Gurudwara in Karol Bagh.  

Kejriwal had announced the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana on Monday, stating that the scheme would come into effect once AAP forms the government after the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The announcement marks the AAP’s continued focus on religious and community welfare programmes as part of its election strategy.  

(Agency input)