Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, September 15:- Under the Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme launched by the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, MLA S. Kulwant Singh today flagged off two buses carrying devotees from the Mohali Assembly constituency for Khatu Shyam. After facilitating visits to religious places at Khatu Shyam, Balasar, Haridwar and Vrindavan, the buses will return the devotees to Mohali.
Speaking to journalists on the occasion, MLA S. Kulwant Singh said that great enthusiasm was being witnessed among the devotees departing for the pilgrimage. He said that devotees from Sector-68 and Balongi-Daun village had registered for the pilgrimage through the efforts of former Sarpanch S. Makhan Singh Balongi and Smt. Sarabjit Kaur, and that the devotees had today departed to visit their places of faith.
The MLA said that earlier, under the Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme, devotees were taken to Sri Darbar Sahib, Sri Durgiana Temple, Ram Tirath Valmiki Temple, Wagah Border and Jallianwala Bagh in Sri Amritsar Sahib. He said that now, in accordance with the directions of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the scope of the scheme has been expanded, and buses have also been started for religious destinations including Khatu Shyam, Vrindavan, Haridwar and Balasar, in addition to Sri Amritsar Sahib.
He said that devotees are continuously registering to visit these religious places and the Punjab Government is making appropriate arrangements to ensure that the pilgrimage is smooth, safe and convenient. He said that special attention is paid to the convenience of senior citizen devotees during the journey. Guides remain available to provide devotees with information about the significance of the religious places, while doctors are also available for immediate medical assistance, whenever required. In addition, suitable arrangements for food and accommodation are also made for the devotees.
On the occasion, S. Phoolraj Singh, Constituency Coordinator of the Chief Minister’s Pilgrimage Scheme and State Awardee, said that buses for the pilgrimage depart in the evening. He said that the devotees expressed their gratitude to MLA S. Kulwant Singh, whose efforts have enabled large groups of senior citizens from the Mohali Assembly constituency to continuously depart for the pilgrimage.
Besides Constituency Coordinator S. Phoolraj Singh, Senior Deputy Mayor of Mohali Municipal Corporation S. Rajinder Prasad Sharma, Councillor S. Gurjit Singh, S. Jaspal Singh Mattor, S. Baljit Singh Happy, S. Rajinder Singh and S. Nirmal Singh, along with other prominent persons, were present on the occasion.