Hoshiarpur: Hours after chief minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurated a five-storey govt school for girls in Malerkotla and announced a medical college would soon come up there, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Mann on Wednesday flagged off 15 buses carrying pilgrims from Hoshiarpur.The buses will take pilgrims to Haridwar-Rishikesh, Mathura-Vrindavan and Salasar-Shri Khatu Shyam under the state’s pilgrimage scheme. The two leaders also visited the buses and interacted with the pilgrims.Kejriwal said 1.5 lakh people from Punjab would be taken to different pilgrimage destinations in the coming months. Pilgrims aged 50 and above are eligible, with up to two members from a family allowed to travel. The govt provides AC sleeper bus travel, accommodation and food free of cost.“Today, 15 buses are going to Haridwar-Rishikesh, Mathura ji-Vrindavan Dham and Salasar-Shri Khatu Shyam. In the coming months, a total of 1.5 lakh people from Punjab will be taken to different pilgrimage destinations,” Kejriwal said.Mann said pilgrims would receive free food and proper care during the journey, besides medical insurance for emergency treatment at empanelled hospitals.Earlier in the day, at Malerkotla, Mann inaugurated the five-storey girls’ school building and announced that the state would soon open Nawab Sher Khan Medical College in the historic town. He also highlighted the govt’s education, healthcare and employment initiatives.AAP Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia and others were present at the Hoshiarpur event. (With inputs from Ropar)——
