206 senior citizens from Rajasthan to go on govt-sponsored pilgrimage to Nepal

Jaipur: The first group of senior citizens from Rajasthan went on the first free pilgrimage to a foreign country under a scheme of the state government’s devasthan department. The first flight left for Kathmandu from New Delhi on Tuesday. Nearly 40,000 senior citizens had applied for the free pilgrimage to Pashupatinath temple in Nepal. In the first list, 3018 senior citizens were selected. Of them, 2985 are on the waiting list now.

All the pilgrims who are part of the first group of travelers are from Bharatpur division. Senior devasthan department officials said that senior citizens from other divisions will also be sent to Nepal.

“We are yet to decide the schedule for the remaining pilgrims who are on the waiting list. However, they will definitely get a chance to travel to Nepal in the coming months,” said an officer.

Devasthan department cabinet minister is Vishevendra Singh who belongs to Bharatpur division.

The officials however denied the reports that claim Vishvendra Singh influenced the selection of the pilgrims for the first flight.

“Nearly 206 senior citizens will leave for Nepal by Wednesday. Two flights carrying 103 pilgrims left for Nepal from New Delhi on Tuesday. The remaining 103 pilgrims will fly to Nepal in two flights on Wednesday,” said the officer.

The pilgrims from Bharatpur division left for New Delhi on Monday where they spent the night. All the passengers are from Sawaimadhpur and Karauli districts.