AAP Turns Saffron to Launch a Religious Wing — Sanatan Seva Samiti

In an attempt to compete for hardline Hindutva votes in the upcoming Delhi elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is trying to outdo the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party by offering a political platform for priests.

TV news channels ABP and Times Now have reported that the AAP's new religious wing would be termed Sanatan Seva Samiti.

At a special function on Wednesday, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal welcomed over 100 members of 'Mandir Prakoshth', a body of temple priests affiliated with the RSS and the BJP.

"Those who work 24X7 for Sanatan Dharma, such as the priests and saints, God has given us the opportunity to serve to them for which I consider myself and AAP very fortunate." - Arvind Kejriwal

The defection of the members of the priests' body triggered the talk of a separate religious wing for the AAP. The entry of temple priests into the AAP followed its campaign promise of 'Pujari-Granthi Samman Yojana' — a scheme to provide a monthly honorarium of ₹18,000 for priests in city temples and gurdwara.