Hoshiarpur, Aug 12 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday evening flagged off 15 buses carrying pilgrims to the Shri Khatu Shyam-Salasar Balaji pilgrimage, Haridwar-Rishikesh and Mathura-Vrindavan Dham.
The flagging-off event comes as the AAP government expanded its Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Yojna to various religious sites.
Under this scheme, pilgrims aged 50 years and above can undertake ‘yatra’, with up to two eligible family members, and the government will bear the expenses for AC sleeper bus travel, accommodation and food.
Under Phase I of the scheme, 4 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at Sri Amritsar Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi.
Before flagging off the buses, Kejriwal said, “For the people, this is a very big opportunity in their lives to go on a pilgrimage. We just went inside the buses as well. The buses are excellent, comfortable and air-conditioned. People do not need to spend anything. The Bhagwant Mann government will bear all the expenses for travel, stay and food. Very good hotels have been arranged for the devotees. Good buses have also been arranged after they reach there, so there is no need to worry.” “Today, 15 buses are going to Haridwar-Rishikesh, Mathura ji-Vrindavan Dham and Salasar- Shri Khatu Shyam. We spoke to the people inside the buses, many of whom are getting the opportunity to visit Salasar and Shri Khatu Shyam for the first time. In the coming months, a total of 1.5 lakh people from Punjab will be taken to different pilgrimage destinations,” Kejriwal added.
Speaking on the occasion, Mann said, “Today, 15 buses are going from Hoshiarpur to Vrindavan, Salasar, Khatu Shyam, Rishikesh and Mathura. We met the pilgrims, and the devotees sitting in the buses are very happy and are already singing ‘bhajans’”.
“A total of 15 buses carrying devotees from five districts, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Pathankot and Gurdaspur, have departed from Hoshiarpur for different religious destinations,” he added. PTI COR CHS KSI KSI
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