Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 19: The four -day long Sindhu Darshan at Leh in Ladakh region beginning from June 24 will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Culture Tourism, Shripad Yesso Naik on June 24.
Disclosing this to Excelsior here today, All India Sindhu Darshan Samiti, president Murli Dhar Makheeja said that the Union Minister will be accompanied by Brij Mohan Aggarwal a Cabinet Minister of Chattisgarh.
He said the BJP senior leader and former Deputy Prime Minister, L K Advani who was instrumental in starting the Sindhu Darshan Yatra in 2001 is likely to participate in this year’s yatra too.
The four -day yatra beginning on June 24 will culminate on June 27. Over 1500 pilgrims drawn from different parts of country are participating in this year’s yatra, he added.
He said 800 yatris are coming under package while others are others are visiting without package.
Mr Makheeja said that opening of Mansarovar road via Ladakh and inclusion of Boti into the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution will be the main demand during this year’s Sindhu Darshan festival.
He said the Samiti is trying to make it a national festival with participation of more and more people from India and abroad to take part in the festival every year celebrated on the bank of river Sindh at Leh. “Our efforts are that people should develop a faith in this yatra and they should participate in it like Amarnath yatra”, he added.
Mr Makheeja also sought the cooperation of media in publishing the yatra.
Meanwhile, the first batch of 400 yatris drawn from different parts of country who had reached here yesterday will leave for Leh tomorrow. They participated in a cultural programme organized by Sanaskar Bharti in their honour at RRL here today.
The yatra is led by Mr Makheeja. The cultural programme was presided over by Maj Gen (retd) P S Chib while Director R R L Dr Ram Vishwakarma was the chief guest.
The programme was conducted by Ajay Kumar of Sanaskar Bharti while the vote of thanks was proposed by Dr Kuldeep Raj.
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