If Congress Forms Government, Elderly Buddhists Will Also Get Free Pilgrimage: Udit Raj
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader Udit Raj today accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its convener Arvind Kejriwal of depriving Dalits and backward communities of their rightful benefits. He criticized the AAP government for providing free pilgrimages to individuals above 60 years of age but questioned the exclusion of Buddhist pilgrimage sites from this scheme. Raj assured that if Congress comes to power, elderly Buddhists will also benefit from free pilgrimage services.
Speaking at a press conference at the Delhi Pradesh Congress Headquarters, Rajiv Bhavan, Udit Raj highlighted the AAP government’s announcement of providing a monthly honorarium of ₹18,000 to granthis (Sikh priests) and temple priests. However, he pointed out the absence of any similar financial aid for Dalit and backward community priests. He assured that a Congress-led government would ensure equality and fairness for all priests.
Raj further criticized the AAP government for offering free pilgrimages to destinations such as Tirupati, Ayodhya, Vaishno Devi, and Balaji but neglecting significant sites like Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, Ravidas Sthali, Mhow, Deeksha Bhoomi, and Chaitya Bhoomi. He alleged this exclusion reflects AAP’s disregard for Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Gautam Buddha. Raj vowed to include Dalits and backward communities in such schemes under a Congress government. He also warned that if AAP does not announce a monthly honorarium of ₹18,000 for priests of Buddhist, Ravidas, Kabir, and Valmiki temples, Congress would stage a protest against Kejriwal.
The Congress leader emphasized that such discrepancies reinforce Rahul Gandhi’s demand to break the 50% reservation cap. He underscored Gandhi’s advocacy for caste-based census and opposition to privatization. Raj lauded the Congress party’s historical contributions, including introducing quotas for Dalits in the permit system, providing gas agencies, and ensuring their inclusion in the mainstream. He criticized AAP for discrimination, asserting that Congress stands for equality for all.
Raj also raised concerns about the closure of a residential school for 800 students in Siraspur-Najafgarh and a hostel in Guru Tegh Bahadur Nagar. He accused the state government of neglecting Dalit students by failing to pay coaching centers under the scheme for UPSC aspirants. Additionally, he criticized the Chief Minister Fellowship program, offering a monthly stipend of ₹75,000 to ₹1.25 lakh, for not providing reservation benefits. Raj pointed out that despite Kejriwal’s 2014 promise to end contractual employment and introduce permanent jobs, contract practices have increased in various departments. He also highlighted the high fees of Delhi’s seven state universities, making education inaccessible for Dalit and poor students.