Congress complains to EC over Modi's ‘meditation drama’ at Kanyakumari
The Congress told EC that Modi's retreat is a ‘tactic’ by the PM to keep campaigning or to keep himself in the headlines
Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed Kanyakumari meditation visit is a violation of the "silence period" in the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) amid the ongoing Lok Sabha Elections.
Modi is scheduled to meditate at Rock Memorial, a monument built in tribute to Swami Vivekananda, in Kanyakumari, after the Lok Sabha polls campaign culminated on May 30.
“We have complained o the EC that Modi has announced he will sit for 'maun vrat' from the evening of May 30... The silence period will be from May 30 till June 1. This is a violation of the model code," Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said.
Varanasi voting
Further Singhvi said, “The retreat is a ‘tactic’ by the prime minister to keep campaigning or to keep himself in the headlines.” Congress in their complaint flagged that the meditation retreat of PM Modi was a violation of the ‘silence period’.
‘Silence period’ is used by the ECI to describe a 48-hour period during which political parties and candidates are not allowed to campaign.
Modi’s meditation retreat will be held till June 1, which is the same day his own Lok Sabha constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh will vote.
Besides the Congress, Tamil Nadu's ruling party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (DMK) also petitioned the district collector not to give permission for the PM's sojourn, citing the Model Code of Conduct and the impact it will have on tourists.
Modi's meditation programme will take place at the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial, where Swami Vivekananda meditated once and which is now a popular tourist attraction. The beach will out of bounds for tourists from May 30 to June 1 and private boats will also not be allowed to ferry.
More than 2,000 police personnel will be deployed at and near the event site and in Kanyakumari town.
Television coverage
The Congress noted that the Kanyakumari event will be televised, as with all programmes of Modi, all of 24 hours, giving him an unfair advantage over his political rivals amid the Lok Sabha battle.
"Through the meditation trip, Modi is attempting to circumvent 48-hour silence period and unfairly leverage the ethno-cultural significance of the chosen location in an attempt to bolster his campaign and maximize his vote share,” the Congress said.
The Trinamool Congress, the DMK and the CPI(M) too flayed Modi’s programme. The TMC is all set to complain to the EC if the programme is televised.
Tourists hit
DMK's Kanyakumari south district advocates' wing organiser M Joseph Raj urged the Kanyakumari Collector-cum-Returning Officer PN Sridhar to deny permission for the event.
Joseph Raj said in a statement that the programme was a ploy by Modi to influence people who will cast their votes in the final phase of elections on June 1.
He said it will also cause huge losses to traders who rely on the large number of tourists visiting Kanyakumari at the end of the holiday season.
‘Meditation drama’
The CPI(M)’s Tamil Nadu secretary K Balakrishnan wrote to the Chief Election Commissioner that non-stop media coverage of the event will provide “a huge propaganda material” to Modi as well as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This will affect the concept of a level playing field, he added.
Tamil Nadu Congress president K Selvaperunthagai said the event was devoid of spiritual intent and was aimed at political gain. He added that the “meditation drama” would bring shame to India.
Tentative schedule
PM Modi is expected to arrive at Kanyakumar in the late afternoon of May 30 and proceed to the memorial. He is likely to stay there even as the country votes in the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Even as he meditates, the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and the coastal security group will maintain vigil.
