Hoshiarpur:- During the "Ek Shaam Bhagwan Shiv Ke Naam" devotional evening at Talwara in Hoshiarpur, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, announced a major expansion of the Punjab Government's free pilgrimage scheme. Beginning in August, the government will introduce free pilgrimages to Khatu Shyam Ji-Salasar Ji, Haridwar-Rishikesh, and Mathura-Vrindavan. Registration for these three new routes will open in August, with the government planning to facilitate pilgrimage for 1.5 lakh devotees.
Kejriwal said that under the existing free pilgrimage scheme, devotees are taken to Sri Darbar Sahib and Sri Anandpur Sahib, with the Punjab Government bearing the full cost of air-conditioned buses, accommodation, meals and other arrangements. He said the scheme has now been expanded to include three additional routes. Registration for these routes will begin in August, and around 150,000 devotees will be provided an opportunity for pilgrimage.
Speaking about financial assistance for women, the AAP National Convener said that women who have completed their registration but have not yet received the benefit in their bank accounts will receive ?3,000 on August 1, covering payments for July, August and September together. Women belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community will receive ?4,500. He added that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had transferred funds into the bank accounts of 32 lakh women on July 1, while more than 50 lakh women are expected to receive the benefit on August 1.
Explaining how the government is funding these welfare initiatives, Kejriwal claimed that the Punjab Government has sufficient resources because of honest governance. He alleged that previous chief ministers of Punjab had faced corruption allegations after completing their terms, whereas no allegations had been made against Bhagwant Mann, his family or any of his ministers. He described Mann as the "most honest Chief Minister."
Highlighting the changes brought about under the AAP government, Kejriwal said that before the party came to power, people in Punjab received electricity bills amounting to thousands of rupees. Over the past four years, he claimed, households have been receiving zero electricity bills. He also said the Bhagwant Mann Government has introduced health insurance coverage of ?10 lakh per family and has started providing ?1,000 per month to women.
Referring to the historical and religious significance of Amritsar, Kejriwal said the city is home to the Bhagwan Valmiki Temple, where the Ramayana was written, where Mata Sita lived, and where Luv and Kush were born and stopped the Ashwamedha horse. He announced that the Punjab Government has decided to build a grand temple dedicated to Mata Sita and Luv-Kush on land adjacent to the Bhagwan Valmiki Temple.
Speaking about religious initiatives across Punjab, Kejriwal said devotional programmes titled "Ek Shaam Bhagwan Shiv Ke Naam" are being organised in all 22 cities of the state. He further announced that the Punjab Government is spending ?80 crore to develop the Kali Mata Temple in Patiala into a grand religious complex, with the project expected to be completed by September 30.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said he felt honoured to participate in the sacred event at the holy place. He said it was a matter of pride to be part of a programme promoting humanity, unity and love, and expressed happiness over the large turnout of devotees.
The Chief Minister said the immense love and blessings of the people inspire the government to serve them with greater commitment. He described Punjab as a fertile land where every seed except the seed of hatred can flourish, adding that the state's strong tradition of communal harmony is reflected in the way people celebrate all festivals together.
He said Punjab has always stood for communal harmony and that divisive forces can never succeed in the state. Although the event was dedicated to Lord Shiva, people from all religions had participated, which, he said, reflected the true spirit of Punjab.
Highlighting his government's achievements, Mann said that 19 toll plazas had been closed, saving the public approximately ?70 lakh every day. He said the government had provided more than 68,000 government jobs through a transparent recruitment process. He added that 90% of households in Punjab now receive free electricity, farmers are getting daytime power supply, nearly 44,000 kilometres of roads are being developed, and several other development projects are progressing rapidly.
The Chief Minister further stated that the canal irrigation system has been significantly strengthened and that there is now no shortage of canal water for agriculture. He said the government has made extensive efforts to improve irrigation infrastructure for the benefit of farmers.
Mann said that under the "Mawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana", financial assistance has been credited directly into women's bank accounts since July 1. Every eligible woman receives ?1,000 per month, while women belonging to the Scheduled Caste category receive ?1,500 per month. The amount is transferred directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts, and women already receiving social security pensions are also eligible under the scheme. He said nearly 97% of women in Punjab are benefiting from the scheme and that the government has allocated ?9,300 crore for it in the state budget.
Announcing another major initiative, the Chief Minister said the BBMB Hospital would be upgraded on the lines of PGIMER Chandigarh to provide world-class healthcare services. He said it is his dream to transform the hospital into a premier medical institution by equipping it with advanced medical equipment and specialist doctors. While describing the hospital building as impressive, he added that it can fulfil its true purpose only when supported by modern technology and qualified medical professionals.