BJP calls Kejriwal ‘Chunavi Hindu’ over scheme for priests and granthis; AAP chief hits back

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal

The Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attacked AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, calling him a "chunavi (electoral) Hindu" for promising Rs 18,000 monthly compensation to temple priests and gurdwara granthis ahead of the Delhi assembly election.

The Delhi BJP posted an image on X, depicting Arvind Kejriwal in a dramatic priest-like avatar, similar to actor Rajpal Yadav's character in 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' - wearing rudraksha beads, flower garlands, and vermilion.

10 ? pic.twitter.com/KMKntiOlXW
BJP Delhi (@BJP4Delhi) December 31, 2024

Along with the poster, the Delhi BJP listed four examples to paint Kejriwal as a "chunavi Hindu".

First, they took a dig at Kejriwal for supporting priests and granthis now, saying that the former CM has been distributing salaries to Imams for the last 10 years. "Now that the elections have come, he remembered the priests and the glands?" the X post said.

However, right after the AAP chief announced this new scheme for priests and granthis, the All India Imam Association (AIIA) protested at his residence claiming that they had not been paid for 17 months.

The post further alleged that Kejriwal and his grandmother were not happy with the construction of the Ram temple. It claimed that the AAP government opened up liquor shops outside temples and gurudwaras and accused Kejriwal of playing anti-Hindu politics.

Earlier, Kejriwal quoted his maternal grandmother as saying that her ‘Ram’ cannot reside in a temple constructed after the demolition of a mosque.

Responing to the criticism, Kejriwal said that BJP has been abusing him since he announced the Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana.

In a post on X, he challenged the BJP by asking if the country would benifit from such insults. "You hold power in 20 states and have been in charge in Gujarat for 30 years. Why have you failed to show respect to the priests and granthis all this time? Isn’t it time to change that? I've already set an example for everyone. Instead of hurling insults at me, why don’t you take action in your 20 states? That way, everyone can benefit," he said.