Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday attacked lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal over the latter’s objection to a Government scheme to offer free pilgrimage for senior citizens. Under the “Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana”, 77,000 people were proposed to be taken on free pilgrimage every year but the scheme needed Baijal’s approval. “lG is practically obstructing every scheme and every project of Delhi (Government). How do we run (a Government) like thisIJ” Kejriwal asked in a tweet. “My appeal to BJP — Don’t obstruct our work. I challenge your Governments in other States to compete with us in work,” the AAP leader added.
Earlier, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said the lt Governor wanted the pilgrimage to be restricted to families below poverty line.
“lG forgets that many children do not support their old parents. They would be happy to receive government support. And every government facility should not be restricted only to BPl,” Gahlot said.
Earlier, in the month of January Delhi Cabinet approved a new scheme for lower-and middle-class senior citizens to go on free religious pilgrimages.
If the scheme get green signal from lG, the Government will select 77,000 devotees every year for an all-expenses-paid trip on five designated routes: Haridwar-Rishikesh-Neelkanth, Ajmer-Pushkar, Amritsar-Anantpur Sahib, Vaishnodevi-Jammu, Mathura-Vrindavan. At least 1,100 senior citizens, aged 60 and above, will be chosen from each of Delhi’s 70 Assembly segments.
The Delhi Government on its official statement was mentioned that pilgrims will be allowed to bring an attendant who is a relative of theirs and at least 18 years old, though the Government is not sure how many it will be able to accommodate.
The scheme, intended to benefit senior citizens with an annual income under Rs 3 lakh, is the first free religious trip sponsored by the Delhi government . Previous administrations facilitated discount travel packages.
According to Delhi Government official the selection of pilgrims will be done through a draw of lots, and the local MlA will have to certify the residents as belonging to Delhi, “All other modalities will be specified soon in the final notification.”
The trips were expected to cost Rs 7,000 per pilgrim.
The government estimated the total annual expense will be Rs 53 crore. The eligibility criteria for the applicants must be a resident of Delhi and they cannot be employed by the central, State or local Government.
Sisodia said that pilgrims will probably be limited to one trip every three or five years.
“Application forms will be filled out and filed online. They will be sent to either the Office of the Divisional Commissioner, the office of the appropriate MlA, or the office of Tirth Yatra Committee,” Delhi government mentioned in its release.
