Continuing the “tradition of meditation” ahead of the final phase of the Indian Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu for three days from May 30 to June 1. The Prime Minister will meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial as weeks of election campaigning conclude today.
His spiritual journey came just days before the announcement of the results of the Lok Sabha elections on June 4. In 2019 too, PM Modi made a similar trip to Kedarnath and meditated in a cave before the final phase of the elections. He visited various temples in 2019, including Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and Kothandaramaswamy Temple.
Interestingly, the Dhyan Mandapam at the Rock Memorial is the same spot where Swami Vivekananda meditated while having a vision of Bharat Mata in 1892. Kanyakumari is located at the southernmost tip of India, where the eastern and western coasts of the country meet, and where the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea meet.
Modi’s visit to Tamil Nadu is symbolic because he has been campaigning aggressively to woo supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and gain a foothold in southern India. He has also promoted Tamil culture in his campaign speeches.
Security stepped up for PM Modi’s visit to Kanyakumari
The prime minister is spending 45 hours on Thursday meditating at the underwater rock monument named after Hindu saint Vivekananda while around 2,000 police officers and various security agencies are keeping a close watch.
Tirunelveli range DIG Pravesh Kumar along with Superintendent of Police E Sundaravathanam inspected the security arrangements at the rock memorial, boat jetty, helipad and guest house here. PTI report.
Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, the DMK, had filed a petition with the district commissioner against allowing the chief minister’s religious visit. They cited the Model Code of Conduct for elections currently in force and the ongoing tourist season which is expected to see a significant number of tourists from both within and outside the country.
Modi is scheduled to arrive in Kanyakumari for a devotional journey in the late afternoon of May 30, after which he will proceed to the memorial. The prime minister is scheduled to stay at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial until 3 pm on June 1, when the seventh and final round of voting in the ongoing Indian Lok Sabha elections will take place.
The Indian Coast Guard, Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy will maintain vigil along the maritime border as the prime minister will be there for around 45 hours for meditation, officials said. PTI.
Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, the DMK, has petitioned the district commissioner against allowing the chief minister’s religious stay, citing the Model Code of Conduct for elections currently in force and the tourist season which would see a large influx of domestic and foreign tourists.
(With input from relevant agencies)
You are on Mint! India’s No.1 News Site (Source: Press Gazette). For more of our business coverage and market insights, click here!
