Overview
- Arvind Kejriwal announced on Saturday, June 27, that a grand temple to Mata Janaki (Sita) and her sons Luv and Kush will be built next to the Bhagwan Valmiki temple in Amritsar and that the Punjab government will back the project.
- Kejriwal also unveiled a coordinated cultural plan that includes staging the play 'Hamare Ram' free across the state from August 1 and running 'Ek Shaam Shivji Ke Naam' bhajan evenings in all 22 Punjab cities.
- The state plans to expand the Mukh Mantri Teerath Yatra Yojna with three new routes to Salasar–Khatu Shyam Ji, Haridwar–Rishikesh and Mathura–Vrindavan that are expected to begin around August 1 and carry about 1.5 lakh pilgrims.
- Punjab has committed Rs 80 crore to redevelop Patiala’s Kali Mata Temple with work due by September, but public reporting so far gives no detailed timeline, budget breakdown or approvals for the new Amritsar temple.
- Opposition parties have criticised the announcements as timed political messaging ahead of the elections and the package raises practical questions about use of state resources, project approvals and the impact on local tourism and civic priorities.