New Delhi, Jul 12 (UNI) Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot and Tirth Yatra Committee Chairman Kamal Bansal on Friday flagged off the first train of the ‘Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana’ from the Safdarjung Railway Station.
This kicks-off the Chief Minister’s ambitious project of sending the senior citizens for Tirth Yatra for free on government expenditure.
The Mukhayamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana covers five routes of religious importance. The train flagged off Friday is the first train and it will take the senior citizens to Golden Temple, Wagah Border and Anandpur Sahib.
Addressing the yatris, Mr Kejriwal said, "It was Delhi government's vision to ensure every senior citizen in Delhi gets the opportunity to go on a tirth yatra. It is said sending the elderly on a tirth yatra brings one punya. Our Hindu scriptures also say that a child can never repay the debt he owes to his parents, but if he succeeds in sending them on a tirth yatra then the burden of the debt diminishes a little. It is our dream that every single senior citizen of Delhi gets the opportunity to go on at least one tirth Yatra in their lifetimes."

"My best wishes are with the yatris who are going to the Golden Temple today and I would request you all to pray to the _wahe guru_ for peace and prosperity for all of Delhi and India. Like Delhi has become known for its education, healthcare, power and water, it will also be known for its spirituality,” he said.
Mr Sisodia said, "I want to congratulate all the yatris and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. This was a big dream of the people of Delhi and the government. For us, tirth doesn't mean temple, mosque or Gurudwara alone. Even the Jallianwala Bagh is our tirth. The Wagah Border, where the sons of Bharat Mata defend us putting their lives in danger, is also our tirth. This train will not just take you to places of worship but also to places that signify the sacrifices of our forefathers. When you reach your destination, I want you all to make the presence of Delhi felt. At Wagah Border, I want you to chant Bharat Mata ki Jai loud enough for your voice to reach Lahore and Delhi."
A total of 1,000 senior citizens have taken the train for the first Tirth Yatra. The 1,000 senior citizens have been booked in 17 AC coaches of the train.
The train has the facility of food for all the pilgrims, two volunteers of the government for any kind of support would be available in every coach of the train, a medical team for any kind of medical emergency/help.
The first train will be back in Delhi on the morning of July 16.
The Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana enables 1100 senior citizens from each Assembly Constituency of Delhi per year to undertake free pilgrimage, the expenses for which will be borne by the Delhi government.
The journey will be performed through Indian Railways. Initially, it was proposed that the journey would be undertaken in sleeper class, however, it was the Chief Minister who got it changed and ensured that yatris travel in AC coaches.
The scheme covers pilgrimage sites of all faiths under this scheme.

The Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, accompanied by their families will join the yatris on July 20 train to Vaishno Devi.
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