Deputy CM flags off special train to Ajmer Sharif Dargah

Sushil Goyal

Tribune News Service

Malerkotla (Sangrur), Jan 29

Amid beating of drums and religious fervour, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal flagged off a special train to Ajmer Sharif Dargah under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Darshan Yatra Scheme at the railway station here today.

Over 1,100 Muslim pilgrims, including children, youths, men and women of all age groups, are travelling in the train comprising 15 sleeper coaches.

Sukhbir said people were happy with the scheme, especially poor, as they have got a chance to visit religious places free of cost.

He added that the state government had ordered all Deputy Commissioners to set up graveyards by arranging space in all those villages and cities which had Muslim and Christian population. He said this order would be implemented in two months.

On being asked why the state government has not given promised laptops to students so far, Sukhbir said all villages and towns would have 4G connectivity for better internet service in two months. However, he evaded the question on laptops.

With regard to not nabbing the culprits of the Bargari incident and sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib, Sukhbir said the CBI was investigating the case.

In the special train, more than 90 per cent of the pilgrims are from Malerkotla while the remaining are from nearby villages.

A majority of them are going for the first time to the Ajmer Sharif Dargah – the shrine of a Sufi saint, Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. All arrangements of this pilgrimage, including food, stay and rail ticket, have been made by the state government.

Syed Iqbal (55), a pilgrim, termed the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra scheme a good step.

Nayeem Ahmed (35), who has been visiting the dargah for the first time with his wife and son, said it was a good project of the government that should be appreciated. He added that all pilgrims had been given a “Tasbeeh” (beads) and a “siropa” (a piece of green cloth).

Among others who were present included Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Farzana Alam, CPS Balbir Singh Ghunas, Dhuri MLA Gobind Singh Longowal and Amargarh MLA Iqbal Singh Jhunda.

The train that departed from here at 2.40 pm today will reach Ajmer at 4 am tomorrow while it will return to Malerkotla at 10 am on February 1 after departing from Ajmer Sharif at 8.30 pm on January 31. The train will pass through Dhuri, Jakhal, Hisar and Rewari to reach Ajmer in Rajasthan.