The Delhi Government officially launched the registration process for the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman’ scheme on Tuesday, a program designed to provide financial support to Gurudwara priests.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced the scheme on Monday, December 30. Under the initiative, a monthly grant of Rs 18,000 will be provided to every temple and Gurudwara priest in Delhi.
“Today, the scheme was launched by Arvind Kejriwal at the Hanuman temple in Connaught Place. The registration process for the scheme also began today at Sant Sujan Singh ji Maharaj’s Gurdwara,” Delhi Chief Minister Atishi told reporters. She emphasized the significance of the initiative, noting that the Granthis (Gurudwara priests) appreciated the scheme as a historic move.
“The Granthis said that this is probably the first government after Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s government that is worried for the Granthis,” Atishi added, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the measure. The scheme is aimed at ensuring financial security and recognizing the contributions of religious leaders serving in temples and Gurudwaras.
“When the Arvind Kejriwal government was formed in Delhi, every temple and Gurudwara priest was promised Rs 18,000 under this scheme,” Atishi reiterated.
However, BJP Lok Sabha MP Bansuri Swaraj criticized former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the ‘Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana,’ accusing him of using the scheme as a tool to woo voters ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi.
During a press conference, Swaraj alleged, “We heard a lot about election slogans but Arvind Kejriwal has brought a new wind of election gimmicks… Kejriwal’s government has not paid salaries to Imams and Maulvis for 17 months… He did not solve the problems of Imams and Maulvis and started a new type of appeasement politics in which he said that he would pay salaries to priests and Granthis. There is no election model code of conduct now, so why are you waiting for the elections?”
Swaraj further urged the Delhi government to implement the scheme immediately instead of delaying it for electoral purposes. “For one decade they did not respect ‘Pujaris,’ religious places, or ‘Granthis,’ and now when the election is closer, they are trying to appease them for votes,” she said.
