‘Chunavi Hindu’: BJP’s Dig At Kejriwal’s Rs 18,000 Priest Honorarium Scheme, AAP Hits Again – News18

Final Up to date:December 31, 2024, 18:38 IST

Whereas the BJP mocked Arvind Kejriwal in a poster with a ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ twist, the AAP retaliated by “difficult” the saffron social gathering to introduce an analogous scheme within the 20 states dominated by it

As AAP nationwide convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday launched the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana’, promising a month-to-month allowance of Rs 18,000 for temple monks and granthis of gurdwaras, a political disagreement raged over the scheme with the BJP calling Arvind Kejriwal “chunavi Hindu”.

The BJP mocked Kejriwal in a put up on social media platform ‘X’, displaying him in a priest-like avatar just like a personality in Bollywood movie ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’. The Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) additionally retaliated with a poster of its personal “difficult” the BJP to introduce an analogous scheme within the 20 states dominated by the social gathering.

In one in every of its main ballot guarantees, the AAP on Monday (December 30) introduced that it’s going to launch the scheme whether it is re-elected in Delhi. Kejriwal launched the scheme earlier within the day, registering the priest of Marghat Wale Baba temple close to Kashmere Gate ISBT, following which Chief Minister Atishi visited a gurdwara in Karol Bagh to conduct registrations.

The previous chief minister stated this course of will likely be adopted at different temples and gurdwaras throughout town by AAP employees. He alleged that the BJP tried its finest, however nobody can cease a devotee from assembly the god. He added that he’ll go to the Prachin Hanuman Mandir at Connaught Place to register the monks there.

However, because the politics over the honorarium gathered momentum in Delhi, a gaggle of monks staged a protest towards him outdoors the temple for saying the honorarium after a delay of 10 years.

WHAT IS THE BJP SAYING?

In its poster mocking Arvind Kejriwal, the BJP known as him a “chunavi Hindu” (Hindu for electoral functions), saying “visiting temples was a mere phantasm” for the AAP chief. The social gathering stated he had “ridiculed Sanatan Dharma” at each step of his political profession and the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana was merely an “electoral gimmick”.

Delhi BJP leaders joined the refrain towards the AAP and Kejriwal, with MP Bansuri Swaraj calling the scheme an “appeasement” transfer forward of the meeting polls. In a press convention, she challenged the AAP chief to implement the schemes introduced by him, together with the ‘Mahila Samman Yojna’, saying there is no such thing as a mannequin code of conduct in place.

Bansuri stated the AAP authorities was unable to pay Rs 18,000 to imams of mosques for months because of lack of funds and but Kejriwal was attempting to appease the monks and granthis simply earlier than the elections. She questioned why there was no honorarium for hem within the final 10 years.

Addressing a press convention, BJP nationwide spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia dubbed the announcement of the month-to-month honorarium as one more “false promise” by the AAP. He claimed that the AAP chief is aware of his “political life” is coming to an finish.

He additional stated till not too long ago his authorities was opening liquor outlets outdoors spiritual locations. He famous that the AAP authorities has additionally promised an analogous quantity to imams, however has not paid them for 17 months.

“There was no greater fraud and deceitful politician in India than him,” he alleged.

One other BJP chief, Vijay Goel, lashed out at Kejriwal over his declaration of the scheme and informed PTI that each one these bulletins are mere election guarantees. “Why is Arvind Kejriwal not contesting the elections on poor consuming water, air pollution in Delhi, corruption, water, electrical energy downside and dangerous highway circumstances?” he requested.

Former Delhi MP Parvesh Verma stated Kejriwal is remembering ishwar and waheguru as a result of worry of loss. However he didn’t keep in mind them for the final 10 years, solely remembering maulvis of the mosque, and noticed just one faith and one vote financial institution.

HOW DID THE AAP RESPOND?

If nothing else, the pre-poll poster conflict between the 2 events hit an all-time excessive. The AAP hit again on the BJP in an “open problem”, daring it to roll out comparable schemes within the 20 states the place it held energy.

On X, Kejriwal stated the BJP has been abusing him since he introduced the scheme. “…My query to them is – will the nation profit from abusing me? You’ve governments in 20 states. You’ve been in energy in Gujarat for 30 years. Why haven’t you revered the monks and granthis there until now? Come on, do it now? I’ve proven the way in which to everybody. As an alternative of abusing me, why don’t you implement it in your 20 states, then everybody will profit? Why do you abuse me?” he wrote in Hindi.

Former deputy CM and senior AAP chief Manish Sisodia stated he’s assured that “God will certainly take heed to the prayers of the monks” to make Kejriwal the CM once more. “…monks from totally different temples got here and prayed to make Arvind Kejriwal the CM of Delhi once more… I had a really nice expertise…and I’m assured that God will certainly take heed to the prayers of the monks. Simply yesterday, Arvind Kejriwal introduced that after our authorities is fashioned in Delhi, monks and granthis of Delhi will likely be given Rs 18,000 each month. I’m hopeful that God’s blessings will likely be on us,” he added.

WHAT IS THE SCHEME, WHY THE TUSSLE?

Kejriwal launched a month-to-month honorarium of Rs 18,000 for Hindu temple monks and gurdwara granthis in Delhi. He, nonetheless, didn’t elaborate on the rules for registration and the eligibility standards for the scheme.

There are not any official numbers of registered temple monks and gurdwara granthis in Delhi. “Their numbers will likely be identified after the registration course of is full,” he stated when requested in regards to the variety of potential beneficiaries and pressured that there will likely be no lack of funds for it.

The announcement evoked sharp reactions from the opposition BJP and Congress. Whereas the BJP dubbed the announcement a “political stunt”, the Congress termed it a “trickery”.

Kejriwal sought to outplay the BJP, saying the social gathering shouldn’t attempt to hamper the scheme as it is going to be “sinful”. “Identical to the BJP tried to cease the Mahila Samman Yojana by sending police however couldn’t, equally they shouldn’t attempt to cease the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman’ scheme. The BJP will incur an amazing sin by doing this. This scheme is a tribute to their religious contribution to the society and their efforts to protect our cultural heritage,” he stated in a social media put up.

The AAP stated a number of monks and granthis visited Kejriwal at his residence to bless him following the announcement. In the meantime, a number of imams and muazzins of the Waqf Board-registered mosques protested close to his residence, demanding their salaries allegedly pending for the final 17 months.

The Delhi authorities pays month-to-month Rs 18,000 to imams and Rs 16,000 to muazzins of mosques registered with the Delhi Waqf Board. “Kejriwal is making determined makes an attempt to shine his tainted picture and regain his misplaced floor by saying numerous freebies to affect the voters with a watch on the upcoming Delhi Meeting elections,” alleged Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav.

The BJP claimed that nobody will get something as a result of there was no information of such monks. Delhi unit chief Veerendra Sachdeva stated Kejriwal is now a “defeated and determined” chief who’s making populist bulletins day by day to remain in energy.

(With PTI inputs)