Congress approaches EC over PM Modi’s rock memorial meditation, alleging violation of 48-hour silence period

NEW DELHI: The Indian National Congress on Wednesday told the Election Commission that it should intervene and block the “meditation” announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kanyakumari from May 30 as it is aimed at averting a 48-hour silence period before the final phase of India’s Lok Sabha elections.

A delegation led by senior Indian National Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Singhvi and Syed Nasir Hussain submitted a memorandum urging the Election Commission to ensure that PM Modi’s meditation begins only after the end of polls on June 1. If the PM insists on starting the meditation from Thursday evening, the Election Commission should ban all forms of media coverage.

The Congress Party delegation said media reports had said Modi would undergo 48 hours of meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari. The delegation said the meditation would be widely televised and would be broadcast during the 48-hour silence period in Varanasi, where Modi is running for office.

They alleged that through the meditation trip, PM Modi is trying to circumvent the 48-hour silence period and unfairly exploit the ethno-cultural significance of the chosen places to intensify his campaign and maximise his vote share in violation of election laws.The party also said that the act is in violation of the Model Code of Conduct and other directives on dos and don’ts during election period which political parties and candidates must adhere to.

“We have conveyed to the Election Commission that during the 48-hour silence period, no one should campaign, either directly or indirectly. Whatever any leader does, we are not against it. Whether they observe ‘Maung Vrat’ or whatever, there should be no indirect campaigning during the silence period,” Singhvi told reporters after the meeting.

“We are protesting against PM Modi’s announcement that ‘Maung Vrat’ will begin from May 30 evening when the silence period begins. This is in violation of the Model Code of Conduct. This is a tactic only to continue election campaigning or to draw attention to himself. We have requested the Election Commission to start ‘Maung Vrat’ from June 1 evening. But if he insists on starting it from tomorrow, then it should be banned from broadcast in print and audiovisual media,” he added.