Delhi govt announces salary hike for Imams

NEW DELHI: Attending a gathering of Imams of mosques in the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday warned against division of votes in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Delhi and claimed that the Congress would not win a single seat in the national Capital. At the event hosted by the Delhi Waqf Board, its chairman and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan said the hike in the salaries of the Imams and Muazzins (mosque staff who give the prayer call) of the 200-odd mosques under the board will be implemented from February. He added that the salaries of the Imams and Muazzins of 1,500 other mosques in the city would also be increased.

Urging the Imams to support the AAP, Khan said, "People are saying they will vote for the Congress because the next prime minister will be from that party. If that is indeed so, we will also extend support to the Congress, but in Delhi, only the AAP can defeat the BJP, not the Congress."

Delhi ministers Imran Hussain and Kailash Gahlot also urged the gathering to ensure the AAP's victory in the national capital in the upcoming parliamentary polls. Khan said, "Do not waste your vote. The votes will be wasted if given to the Congress. Vote for the AAP if you want to defeat the BJP."

The Delhi Waqf Board chairman said the increased salaries of the Imams and

Muajjins would be paid in their bank accounts in February.

The board has decided to

hike the existing monthly salaries of Imams (Rs 10,000) and Muajjins (Rs 9,000) to Rs 18,000 and Rs 16,000 respectively.