Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu): Prime Minister Narendra Modi would visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a popular monument in Kanyakumari on a three-day spiritual tour beginning May 30, ahead of the Lok Sabha election results for meditation.
Highly placed sources said here on Tuesday that Modi will sail in a ferry to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial from the Poompuhar Shipping Corporation’s jetty located about 1.5 km away from the mainland and meditate from the evening of May 30 till June 1 at the Dhyana Mandapam, a meditation hall inside the memorial.
His visit is not related to any party events and it is purely a spiritual tour.
He will leave for New Delhi via Trivandrum after completing his meditation, the sources added.
Tight security arrangements will be made in Kanyakumari in view of the visit of the Prime Minister.
It may be recalled that the PM had meditated in a holy cave near the Kedarnath shrine at Uttarakhand in May 2019 after the polling concluded for the 17th Lok Sabha election.
Why is
It was believed that Swami Vivekananda meditated for three days and nights on the rock mid-sea until he attained “enlightenment.”
The iconic memorial, built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda attracts thousands of tourists every year from all over the country and abroad.
Legends also say that it was on this rock that goddess Kanyakumari prayed to lord Shiva, thus attaining an important place in India’s religious premises. There is a specially preserved portion in the rock which is believed to be the imprint of the goddess’s feet.
Congress opposes PM's meditation program at Vivekananda Rock Memorial, threatens legal route
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposed meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in the southern tip of Kanniyakumari ahead of the Lok Sabha's final phase polls and counting has triggered opposition from the Congress, which has warned of legal action if the Election Commission grants nod to it as the Model Code of Conduct is in force as per RPA Act Tamil Nadu Congress President K.Selvaperunthagai, who is also the Congress Legislature Party Leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, warned of moving the court if the EC gives its nod for it.
He also said that if the EC did not reject it, the Congress will also launch a meditation programme at the same place, he told a TV channel.
He claimed that Mr. Modi is trying to covertly campaign through the media with such an event during the 48-hour lull before the polls (final phase).
Strongly opposing it citing the MCC in force, he said Mr Modi's meditation programme from May 30, was aimed at indirectly influencing the voters and campaigning ahead of the final phase of polls on June 1, especially during the silent period.
The campaign for the final phase will come to an end on May 30 and there will be silent period, where in no campaign activities should take place, he said, citing the MCC, which was in vogue.
In a social media post on Tuesday ngiht, he said "From May 30 to June 1, Mr. Narendra Modi is said to be meditating at Kanyakumari"
"The Election Commission should not give permission for such a program as the Election Conduct Rules are in force as per the Representation of the People's Act", he said.
"It is clear that Mr. Modi is trying to covertly campaign through the media with such an event during the 48-hour lull before the polls", he added.
Mr Selvaperunthagai wrote "A letter will be given to the Election Commission in this regard tomorrow. I am informed that if necessary we will approach the honorable court. @TNelectionsCEO. @ECISVEEP".