Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Kanyakumari, where he will meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial from this evening until Saturday evening. Modi’s meditation will take place at the Dhyan Mandapam, the same spot where Hindu philosopher-saint Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892 to envision the future of India.
The Vivekananda Rock Memorial, located at the confluence of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, symbolises national unity, according to BJP leaders. To ensure the Prime Minister’s security, over 2,000 police personnel have been deployed around the memorial, with the Coast Guard and Navy maintaining additional vigilance.
Visuals from PM Modi’s visit to Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu. He will meditate for two days at the Dhyan Mandapam, a place where Swami Vivekanand did meditation. pic.twitter.com/OIxd7W1exv
— BJP (@BJP4India) May 30, 2024
PM Shri @narendramodi visits Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/4vxZ6Ifagu
— BJP (@BJP4India) May 30, 2024
Campaigning for the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections concluded at 5 pm on Thursday. Modi’s spiritual retreat follows a similar meditation in a cave at Kedarnath during the silent period before the last phase of the 2019 elections.
However, the PM’s meditation plans have ignited a political row. The Congress has accused Modi of attempting to “circumvent” the silence period restrictions and has approached the Election Commission to prevent media coverage of his meditation, arguing that it would violate the model code of conduct.
Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Singhvi, and Syed Naseer Hussain submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission regarding this issue.
The Tamil Nadu unit of the CPIM also requested the Chief Election Commissioner to ban the telecast of visuals of Modi meditating, claiming it could serve as “propaganda material” and undermine the purpose of the silence period and a level playing field. The party argued that meditation is a private activity and suggested that this instance might be a covert attempt to influence voters.
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Addressing a crowd at a Kolkata roadshow today, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised Modi, stating, “The chair of the PM is valuable and it has constitutional responsibilities. They don’t care about it. Every time before counting, he sits somewhere to gain publicity for 48 hours. He may meditate, but why in the presence of cameras?”
The BJP has responded sharply, accusing the opposition of displaying an ‘anti-Sanatan mindset.’ BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla defended Modi’s meditation plans and said, “If someone wants to go for meditation, that too when the election campaign ends on May 30, because that person took inspiration from Swami Vivekananda, why is the Congress party calling it a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC)?”
Poonawalla further alleged that the opposition’s objections reflect an anti-Hindu attitude, noting, “A party like Trinamool Congress is also opposing Swami Vivekananda… People say that he (Rahul Gandhi) often goes abroad for meditation, he can go there at his center of faith and no one stops him.”
As the controversy unfolds, the Election Commission’s decision on the matter remains to be seen, with both sides holding firm on their positions.
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