Bihar mulling Sikh circuit, Gandhi circuit to boost tourism

Patna, Sept 21: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said the state government was mulling to start a Sikh circuit on lines of Buddhist circuit to draw more foreign tourists to the state.

"The state government is mulling to begin Sikh tourism circuit like Buddhist circuit," Kumar said at an international press meet on the eve of three-day International Sikh Conclave which will begin here tomorrow.

He also announced about the elaborate arrangements for conclave and also for celebration of 350th Prakash Utsav early next year.

"In fact in order to tap tremendous potential of religious tourism in Bihar, we are also working on Sufi circuit, Ramayan circuit and Gandhi circuit (connected with places in the state linked with Mahatama Gandhi's visit to state)," he said.

Kumar said the state has made elaborate arrangements for hosting three-day International sikh conclave from tomorrow and also celebration of 350th Prakash Parva from December 30, 2016 to January 10, 2017.

Addressing foreign mediapersons on the eve of International Sikh Conclave, Kumar said detailed preparations have been made to host over 150-200 visitors to the conclave including from countries like the US, UK, Canada, Myanmar and New Zealand.

Though the guest list to the conclave has not yet been made public, there is possibility of participation of Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, his son and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal, Congress leader in Punjab Amrinder Singh, former Planning Commission Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Besides, the event could see presence of guests from abroad including Canada Defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan, Minister of Innovation, science and economic development Navdeep Singh Bains, Baba Singh Jagdeo, Secretary of Sikh council of Australia and Ranjeet Bakshi, President of World Punjabi Organisation.

Flanked by state Tourism minister Anita Devi, Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh, state police chief P K Thakur, Principal Secretary of Public Relations Department Brajesh Mehrotra and his counterpart in Tourism department Harjot Kaur, Kumar said meticulous arrangements have been made for stay, movement on roads and parking of vehicles to Guru Govind Singh gurudwara in Patna Saheb.

The Bihar CM lamented that despite writing to the Centre five years back to provide assistance for hosting mega International Sikh event in Patna, no help came. "We made all the arrangements for the grand event from own limited resources as part of our duty," he said.

PTI