In December, the Aam Aadmi Party announced the Pujari-Granthi Samman Yojana. Under the scheme, the party promised to give Rs 18,000 to temple priests and granthis from gurdwaras if it was voted to power for a fourth time. This is a first-of-its-kind scheme in the country.
At an event at the AAP’s headquarters in Delhi on January 8, party chief Arvind Kejriwal and other senior leaders sought blessings of mahants and shankracharyas. Kejriwal began his speech with a ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogan. The office was lined with saffron flags. Shlokas were chanted and Jai Shree Ram slogans raised.
For a reality check, Newslaundry spoke with priests and asked them what the scheme meant for them.
Most of them called it an “election stunt” and suspected if the party would implement the scheme at all.
Earlier, the BJP had called Kejriwal a “chunaavi Hindu” and raised questions on the financial aspect of the scheme. The saffron party also asked why Muslim clerics have not been paid their honorarium for 17 months.
In reply, the AAP dared the BJP to float similar schemes in states where it is in power.
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