MUMBAI: The Mahayuti government has added minority pilgrimage centres to CM Tirth Darshan Yojana ahead of the polls. All popular dargahs in and around Mumbai have been added to the list, such as Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai, Haji Malang Dargah in Kalyan, and Diwanshah Dargah in Bhiwandi.
Apart from Muslim sites, holy places of Parsis, Buddhists, and Jain community are also included in the list. Under the scheme, state government provides Rs 30,000 per person for darshan of one pilgrimage site for senior citizens aged 60 and above, provided the annual family income does not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh.
The decision is being viewed as Mahayuti government's significant minority outreach programme to win them over during the elections. According to government Resolution (GR) issued on Oct 15, government has added 95 holy places from Maharashtra and 15 outside Maharashtra to the scheme.
Rais Shaikh , SP legislator from Bhiwandi (E), welcomed the move, but said that it is an election gimmick by the Mahayuti government to win over minorities for their political gains. "When the scheme was launched in July, I immediately questioned the government as to why not a single holy place for Muslims in Maharashtra was included in this scheme. I wrote a letter to CM Shinde demanding the inclusion of three popular holy places of the Muslim community in the scheme," Shaikh said.
Shaikh stated that the last-minute additions of the holy places of minority communities expose the government's motive. "Maharashtra is the land of saints. Sufi saints have many dargahs in the state, which are also visited by Hindus. Notable dargahs like Haji Malang and Haji Ali are in the state. Despite such a rich history, the government didn't include them in the first list, which shows their true nature," Shaikh said.
In July, Mahayuti government had launched the scheme with 66 holy places of various religions, excluding Muslim community sites, from Maharashtra, along with 73 religious places outside Maharashtra.
Apart from Muslim sites, holy places of Parsis, Buddhists, and Jain community are also included in the list. Under the scheme, state government provides Rs 30,000 per person for darshan of one pilgrimage site for senior citizens aged 60 and above, provided the annual family income does not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh.
The decision is being viewed as Mahayuti government's significant minority outreach programme to win them over during the elections. According to government Resolution (GR) issued on Oct 15, government has added 95 holy places from Maharashtra and 15 outside Maharashtra to the scheme.
Rais Shaikh , SP legislator from Bhiwandi (E), welcomed the move, but said that it is an election gimmick by the Mahayuti government to win over minorities for their political gains. "When the scheme was launched in July, I immediately questioned the government as to why not a single holy place for Muslims in Maharashtra was included in this scheme. I wrote a letter to CM Shinde demanding the inclusion of three popular holy places of the Muslim community in the scheme," Shaikh said.
Shaikh stated that the last-minute additions of the holy places of minority communities expose the government's motive. "Maharashtra is the land of saints. Sufi saints have many dargahs in the state, which are also visited by Hindus. Notable dargahs like Haji Malang and Haji Ali are in the state. Despite such a rich history, the government didn't include them in the first list, which shows their true nature," Shaikh said.
In July, Mahayuti government had launched the scheme with 66 holy places of various religions, excluding Muslim community sites, from Maharashtra, along with 73 religious places outside Maharashtra.
