Delhi Assembly Polls 2025: Congress protest against AAP over excluding priests of Valmiki, Ravidas temple from monthly honorarium scheme

Udit Raj had described Kejriwal as "anti-Dalit" while citing the exclusion of Buddhist monks and priests of Ravidas and Valmiki temples.

New Delhi: Congress workers led by Udit Raj on Monday staged a protest near AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s residence here protesting against not promising salary for Buddhist monks and priests of Guru Ravidas and Lord Valmiki temples but were detained by police.

Raj claimed that the protest was scheduled at Jantar Mantar but police did not allow the gathering. Following this, they decided to protest near Kejriwal's residence on Ferozeshah Road but were detained.

Buddhist monks and priests of Valmiki and Ravidas temples joined the protest. The protesters were demanding that they be also covered under the party's proposed scheme of providing Rs 18,000 monthly salary for Hindu priests and Sikh 'Granthis'.

Raj and other protesters were later released from custody. Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav visited the protesters at the police station.

Announcing the protest on Sunday, Raj had described Kejriwal as "anti-Dalit" while citing the exclusion of Buddhist monks and priests of Ravidas and Valmiki temples. He also said that AAP has not kept its word on the promise of appointing a Dalit Deputy Chief Minister in Punjab, where it has a government.

Later in the day, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said Kejriwal not promising monthly salary for Buddhist monks and priests in Valmiki and Ravidas temples "once again exposes the anti-Dalit thinking" of AAP and its party chief.

"Their anti-Dalit mentality is not hidden from anyone. Many examples of this have come out earlier also. Among the more than 10 Rajya Sabha MPs of AAP, not even one is from SC/ST or OBC category," he said.

Ramesh also alleged that Kejriwal, while being the Chief Minister, had "humiliated and removed" Dalit leader Rajendra Gautam from his cabinet.

"AAP is weakening the reservation system in Delhi by promoting the practice of contracting. In the last 10 years, the share of SC, ST, OBC in the consultants hired in various departments has been negligible. Arvind Kejriwal maintains silence on the issue of caste census," he said.

"Today, when Congress leader and former MP Udit Raj was protesting against the injustice being done to Dalits by the Aam Aadmi Party, he was arrested. But the Dalit community is now understanding their superficial politics very well and is going to teach them a lesson for the betrayal done to them in this election," he added.