Imams question AAP Govt in Delhi over unpaid salaries: ‘Don’t Muslim votes matter?’
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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi faced criticism after the All India Imam Association (AIIA) staged a protest at the residence of Arvind Kejriwal, following his announcement of a monthly stipend of Rs 18,000 for priests in temples and granthis in gurdwaras, while imams claimed they had not received their salaries for over 17 months through the Waqf Board despite several requests.
The displeased imams, frustrated by the false promises from the AAP government after several meetings with Chief Minister Atishi, the Lieutenant Governor, and senior and junior officers over the last six months, said that either the AAP government is giving hollow promises to pujaris and granthis or is ignoring the Muslim community, whose votes may mean nothing to the party, The Indian Express reported.
The AIIA claimed this prolonged delay has placed financial strain on approximately 240 imams affiliated with the board.
The announcement of the new scheme for pujaris and granthis was perceived by the association as a political move aimed at garnering votes ahead of the elections, ignoring the needs of the Muslim community. They argued that while new promises are being made, existing obligations, such as the salaries of imams, remain unmet.
The AIIA alleged that efforts to resolve the issue through meetings with the Chief Minister, Lieutenant Governor, and other officials had yielded no results. Attempts to personally meet Kejriwal were reportedly unsuccessful, further escalating tensions.
Sources within the Delhi government acknowledged delays in disbursing funds, attributing the issue to bureaucratic disagreements. They indicated that instructions to clear the backlog of salaries were issued recently and expressed hope for a resolution soon.
The association issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding the release of pending salaries within two days. Failure to comply, they warned, would result in an indefinite protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence. They also criticised other AAP election promises, including the Mahila Samman Rashi Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana, calling for the fulfilment of existing commitments before announcing new schemes.
The protest highlighted dissatisfaction among a section of the Muslim community, a significant voter base in Delhi. The AIIA warned that neglecting this constituency could have political repercussions for the party in the upcoming polls.