KANYAKUMARI (TAMIL NADU): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday concluded his 45-hour-long meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial here and paid floral tributes to Tamil saint poet Thiruvalluvar.
On conclusion of his dhyana session, Modi, clad in white, visited the 133-ft statue of Thiruvalluvar, located next to the rock memorial and placed a huge garland there marking his tribute. He arrived at the statue complex by a ferry service and later reached the shore using the service.
The Prime Minister left by a helicopter for Thiruvananthapuram and from there, he left for Delhi. On his arrival here on May 30, the PM prayed at the Bhagavathy Amman temple and later arrived at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
During his stay at the memorial, the PM did meditation and also performed ‘Surya Arghya’ at the time of sunrise, a ritual associated with spiritual practice. Modi was clad in saffron while he was engaged in meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
The PM’s visit to Kanyakumari to perform meditation evoked opposition from INDIA bloc constituents including Tamil Nadu’s ruling DMK. The opposition was to the broadcast of meditation in view of last phase of polling on June 1.
In view of the PM’s stay, senior DMK leader and Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan on May 31 alleged that tourists were not allowed in that area which had seriously affected the local businesses and ‘we have pointed out that this is not good.’
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai on Saturday told reporters that those doing meditation do it peacefully without any hindrance and all alone. “How can a person do Dhyana with 14 cameras in front of him? Is this meditation? This is dhyana eyeing electoral politics,” the Congress leader alleged. He accused Modi of trying to sully Swami Vivekananda’s reputation by acting against the spiritual leader’s legacy and hence, ‘condemnable.’
At the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, the PM embarked on his 45-hour long meditation on the evening of May 30 and completed it on Saturday. Kanyakumari is famous for its sunrise and sunset and the memorial is located on a tiny islet near the shoreline. (PTI)
