Soon after coming to power in Delhi, the BJP has begun denying its own election promises. The latest case is related to the honorarium for Pujaris of temples and Granthis of gurdwaras. During the election campaign, the BJP — following the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) lead — had promised in its manifesto that if voted to power, it would provide an honorarium of ₹20,000 per month to Pujaris and Granthis.
However, after forming the government, it has now refused to fulfil this promise. In response to a question raised by AAP MLA Jarnail Singh, Minister Parvesh Verma has said that the government has no scheme to provide honorarium to Pujaris and Granthis.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, AAP MLA Anil Jha shared this information and strongly condemned the Minister’s reply. “On 25th March, the BJP Government presented its budget and made several claims and promises. We have always believed that every government should get time to implement its plans. But when I saw this budget, I was shocked.”
He added, “During the elections, BJP had said they would run the government like ‘Ram Rajya’ and even released their manifesto with photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lord Ram. They promised to give ₹20,000 per month to temple Pujaris and gurdwara Granthis.”
Anil Jha pointed out that AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal was the first to make such an announcement. He said, “It was Arvind Kejriwal who had first announced that Pujaris in temples of Delhi, Granthis in gurdwaras and Pujaris performing duties in Valmiki and Ravidas temples would be given ₹18,000 per month. This time, AAP could not form the government, but during the elections, BJP copied AAP’s announcement and promised that if their government came to power, they would give Pujaris and Granthis ₹20,000 per month. Now, BJP is in power in Delhi.”
The AAP MLA said, “When the Chief Minister brought the budget, there was no mention anywhere of giving ₹20,000 per month honorarium to Granthis of gurdwaras and Pujaris of temples. When you make public announcements and you are a national party with governments in 20-21 states, when you declare such promises in Delhi — which is a Union Territory — and you present yourself as the biggest flag-bearer of Sanatan culture.”
He continued, “But the financial condition of Granthis and Pujaris is not very good. For the welfare of their families and children’s education, the AAP government had made provisions of honorarium. Seeing that, BJP too included it in its agenda.”
Anil Jha added, “When AAP MLA Janarail Singh asked a question about this in the Assembly, Minister Parvesh Verma said that BJP has no such scheme. Just one month ago, the BJP government came to power, and only two-three months before that, during elections, they had announced this honorarium.”
“But now, within two-three days of the budget, in the Assembly, they are denying that they have any such plan. This is very unfortunate and disappointing that BJP failed to make such a provision in the budget. We strongly condemn the Minister’s statement. Delhiites should understand that BJP has started denying its own manifesto promises,” he asserted.
AAP MLA Anil Jha concluded by saying, “It seems to us that BJP ministers are not making Delhi’s budget — someone else is doing it from behind. BJP had said in its manifesto that they would make provisions to give ₹20,000 monthly honorarium to Pujaris and Granthis, but now they are refusing. This clearly shows BJP’s intention to continuously deceive Delhiites.”
