On Tuesday morning, Connaught Place’s iconic Pracheen Hanuman Mandir was abuzz with devotees lining as much as supply prayers on the final day of the yr. The temple’s serene courtyard, nonetheless, quickly turned an sudden stage for political drama.
The day started with Kejriwal’s announcement that he and his spouse would go to the 500-year-old temple to launch the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana, a scheme promising a month-to-month honorarium of Rs 18,000 for all temple monks and gurdwara granthis in Delhi if AAP returns to energy within the upcoming Meeting elections.
By mid-morning, the temple courtyard was packed – not simply with devotees, but additionally with supporters of AAP and BJP. What started as chants of ‘Jai Hanuman, Jai Shri Ram’ from AAP supporters, shortly escalated right into a struggle of slogans, as BJP loyalists countered with ‘Gali gali mein shor hai, Kejriwal chor hai’.
The verbal jousting quickly was heated arguments. “You individuals (BJP) demanded this scheme, and now you might be criticising it? You haven’t any backbone,” shouted an AAP supporter. A BJP loyalist retorted, “We now have been demanding this for 10 years. First, pay them the allowances price all that point.”
A BJP supporter took on Kejriwal saying, “First, he used to appease Muslims, and now he’s attempting to woo Hindus.” An AAP supporter shot again, “The Waqf Board pays Islamic monks, not the Delhi authorities… Why? Does BJP have a copyright on Hindus?”
This continued for over two hours, with neither facet backing down.
“…It’s shameful to witness the heights to which political events are keen to go on the subject of gaining votes,” mentioned Sanaina Joshi, who had come to supply prayers. Ishani Rajput, who was visiting the temple alongside along with her son, added, “I’m on my Tuesday quick, it’s a lengthy line as a result of it’s additionally the top of the yr… They need to have chosen another day to do that…”
Amid all this, the information broke that Kejriwal has modified his plans. As a substitute of launching the scheme at Pracheen Hanuman Mandir, he’s now going to Marghat Baba Temple close to Kashmere Gate ISBT.
Kejriwal later posted on X, “In the present day I visited Marghat Baba’s temple and launched the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. In the present day is the birthday of Mahant Ji right here, and I celebrated with him. BJP tried its greatest to cease the registration as we speak, however nobody can cease a devotee from assembly his God.”
In an announcement to the press, the AAP claimed that pujaris from 21 temples in Jangpura recited the Sundarkand, invoking “divine blessings” for Kejriwal’s return as CM. Chief Minister Atishi mentioned, “Pujaris and granthis are with us via life’s joys and sorrows. It’s the authorities’s responsibility to take care of them, which is why this scheme was launched.”
Whereas former deputy CM Manish Sisodia and his supportgers gathered on the Shiv Mandir in Kilokari village to go to monks of 21 temples within the Jangpura Meeting constituency, from the place he’ll contest the 2025 polls, Atishi visited a gurdwara positioned in Karol Bagh to launch the scheme.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva dismissed the initiative as mere election theatrics. “Delhi’s monks know effectively that BJP is their very own pious social gathering, at all times standing by them in occasions of pleasure and sorrow. It’s the solely social gathering that can really respect them and their households.”
Atishi hit again, saying, “For the reason that announcement of this Rs 18,000 month-to-month honorarium for pujaris and granthis, the BJP has been rattled. Regardless of ruling in 20 states and claiming to champion Hindu pursuits, it has by no means carried out such a scheme.”
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