Kejriwal vows Kali temple facelift in Patiala, says master plan in the works
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday promised to undertake a complete facelift of the Kali Devi temple complex in Patiala.
Kejriwal said a master plan was being prepared in consultation with experts, who were dwelling on issues concerning heritage preservation, pilgrim services, sanitation, parking and traffic flow.
“The hall for the devotees will be made fully air-conditioned to provide comfort to senior citizens, women, children and differently abled,” said Kejriwal after paying obeisance at the Patiala shrine.
The AAP national convener, who is also a former Delhi CM, was accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who promised all assistance for the project.
‘Hindu votes on mind’
The move, described as temple politics, is being seen as an attempt to consolidate Hindu voters behind the party ahead of the Ludhiana (West) Assembly bypoll on June 19.
Both leaders said the master plan would aim at turning the temple into “one of the most beautiful shrines” in the country. They said continuous water supply to the sacred pool with time-to-time desilting would also be ensured.
“The back gate of the temple that served as the primary access during high traffic periods is proposed to be reopened and renovated. All temple entrances will be restored to maintain architectural symmetry and improve crowd management,” Kejriwal said.
Around 25,000 devotees visit the temple daily, with the number shooting up to around one lakh on Saturdays.
In Navratras, the number rises to nearly 1.5 lakh daily.
“The temple has a six-foot-tall idol of goddess and a sacred flame from Bengal, in addition to an older shrine of Shri Raj Rajeshwari ji, an embodiment of the Shakti,” said Mann.
Wooing traders
Before offering prayers at the temple, Kejriwal and Mann laid the foundation stone of Maharaja Agrasen Darbar at Nabha. He said in coming days, major investment-friendly decisions would be taken to give an impetus to the industry.
“There will be no paucity of funds. Trader boards will also be constituted at the state and district-level,” he said.
“We are clearing the mess created by the previous regimes in every field. The state, which once stood first in terms of per capita income in the country, ranks 17th due to regressive policies of previous state governments,” he added.
Paying tributes to Maharaja Agrasen, Mann described him as a great ruler, who during his regime gave the message of welfare state by strengthening social harmony and unity”.
Kejriwal described Maharaja Agrasen as a devotee of non-violence and the messenger of peace who was a great and visionary ruler. He said Maharaja Agrasen initiated a unique system to provide livelihood to weaker sections.
