PM Modi's old image surfaces as he starts meditation at Vivekananda Rock, Congress calls it violation

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 45-hour long meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial on Thursday evening (May 30)after days of intense campaigning for the Lok Sabha Election. PM Modi ismeditatingat Rock Memorial, which is a monument built in tribute to Swami Vivekananda, in Kanyakumari.

Modi worshipped at the Bhagavathi Amman temple and reached the rock memorial by a ferry service after arriving from nearby Thiruvananthapuram by helicopter. PM Modi started meditation that is scheduled to go on till June 1.

Modi prayed at the shrine and circled the 'garbhagriha'. He was dressed in a dhoti and a white shawl. Priests performed a special 'arthi' and he was given temple 'prasad' that included a shawl and a framed photograph of the presiding deity of the temple.

Security has been heightened as around 2,000 police personnel have been deployed in the area.

Congress calls it violation

However, the Indian National Congress (INC) is not happy about the nearly two-day meditation exercise as they have appealed to the Election Commission to take action against it and have also urged to ensure it is not aired by the media as it violates the model code of conduct.

The Congress party alleged that the meditation plan was an attempt to "circumvent" the silence period restrictions. A delegation of Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Syed Naseer Hussain handed over a memorandum in this regard along with 27 other complaints of alleged model code violations by the BJP in the last few days.

"The said trip would be widely televised and would therefore be shown during the 48-hour silence period in Varanasi, the constituency from which Shri Narendra Modi is contesting", the Congress memorandum to the poll body said.

"Through the meditation trip, Shri Narendra Modi is attempting to circumvent the 48-hour silence period and unfairly leverage the ethno-cultural significance of the chosen location in an attempt to bolster his campaign and maximise his vote share in violation of the Representation of the People Act, as well as the Model Code of Conduct", the party also said.

The memorandum further noted that it was also against the orders related to the Dos and Don'ts during the election period that political parties and their candidates are required to follow.

"The PM will start his meditation on the evening of May 30, and we have complained about that. We all know that the silence period will begin on May 30 and thus his declaration is a violation of the MCC.

"The PM can start his meditation after 24-48 hours, which is from the evening of June 1. Otherwise, if he wants to meditate from May 30, then the ECI should ensure that this is not broadcast by the TV or print media", Singhvi told reporters.

Old image of PM Modisurfaces

Amid meditation talks, PM Modi's 33-year-old photo at the same spot has gone viral on social media forums. The image was taken during the nationwide Ekta Yatra which commenced from the iconic Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari and stretched to Kashmir. BJP veteran Dr Murli Manohar Joshi can also be seen in the image.

Notably, PM Modi chose Kedarnath cave to reflect and meditate following the end of campaign in 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Nirupam supports PM Modi

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam came in support of PM Modi. He said, "What is illegal or the violation of the Model Code of Conduct if he (PM Modi) has decided to go for meditation to a place where Swami Vivekanand had done so."

"It's his choice if someone chooses to get peace through meditation. Some people get peace by consuming 'ganja', it's their choice. But those who consume that won't understand the spiritual importance of meditation. Congress is against meditation, Hindu and Swami Vivekanand," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)