Congress Moves EC Over PM Modi’s Meditation In Kanyakumari, Seeks Ban On Its Media Coverage

The Congress has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to bypass the 'silence period' restrictions with a 48-hour meditation trip in Kanyakumari starting on 30 May.

The Opposition party has urged the Election Commission to prevent media coverage of the event, citing violations of the model code of conduct.

A delegation of Congress leaders, including Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Singhvi, and Syed Naseer Hussain, presented a memorandum to the Election Commission on Wednesday.

The memorandum included 27 other complaints of alleged model code violations by the BJP.

The Congress argued that the meditation programme at Kanyakumari’s 'Dhyan Mandapam' breaches the 'silence period' ahead of the June 1 voting in Modi’s Varanasi constituency and other seats.

During the silence period, which usually begins 48 hours before the voting day and ends after polling ends, no active campaigning by the candidates or political parties is allowed, and television or any digital media cannot carry any election-related matter.

It said that on 28 May, several news agencies reported on the trip that Narendra Modi would be taking to Kanyakumari, where he would undertake 48 hours of meditation starting on 30 May.

"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, India Today reported.

The memorandum also claimed that the meditation trip violates the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the Model Code of Conduct.

The Congress alleged that PM Modi is using the meditation trip to exploit the cultural significance of the location for political gain.

"The PM can start his meditation after 24-48 hours, from the evening of June 1. Otherwise, the ECI should ensure that this is not broadcast by TV or print media," Abhishek Singhvi told reporters after meeting with CEC Rajiv Kumar and other election commissioners.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh added on social media that the live telecast of Modi’s meditation at the Vivekananda Memorial would be a "clear violation" of the Model Code of Conduct.

BJP leaders, however, stated that PM Modi’s meditation at Rock Memorial, a tribute to Swami Vivekananda, is scheduled to follow the end of the Lok Sabha campaign on 30 May.

Modi will meditate at Dhyan Mandapam from the evening of 30 May to 1 June, a place where Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata'.

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