Modi to meditate at Rock Memorial, Cong cries foul

New Delhi/Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meditate at Rock Memorial, a monument built in tribute to Swami Vivekananda, in Kanyakumari following the culmination of the Lok Sabha polls campaign on May 30, BJP leaders said on Tuesday. The Congress' Tamil Nadu unit said the Election Commission should not grant permission for the PM's programme, as the model code of conduct was in force.

Such a move was an attempt at "indirect campaigning" after the end of canvassing of votes, TNCC chief K Selvaperunthagai alleged. The PM will meditate from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1 at Dhyan Mandapam, the place where Vivekananda -- a spiritual icon admired by Modi -- is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata', BJP leaders said.

The prime minister had gone on a similar meditation exercise in a Kedarnath cave after the 2019 poll campaign. TNCC President Selvaperunthagai said the EC should not grant permission to the PM as the model code of conduct was in effect.

"It is clear Mr Modi wants to do an indirect campaigning through the media, during the silent period ahead of 48 hours of polling (for the last phase of Lok Sabha elections on June 1). A letter is to be submitted to the EC in this connection tomorrow (Wednesday). If required, (we) will also approach the court," he said in a post on 'X.' (PTI)