'They would rather go to Thailand ...': FM Sitharaman counters Cong's criticism over PM Modi's Kanyakumari trip

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman attacked the Opposition playing politics over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kanniyakumari for meditation.

In an interview with CNN-News18, the senior BJP leader said the Opposition had undertaken a “negative campaign”. People who are self-appointed liberals are against somebody who wants to keep silent. If the PM talks, you have an objection. He wants to keep maun (silent), you have an objection,” she said.

Sitharaman also said none of the Congress leaders ever take pride in associating themselves with places of historic cultural or religious significance in India. “They would rather go for a vacation in Thailand or rather go somewhere undisclosed,” the minister told CNN-News18.

PM Modi is all set to mark the end of a hectic Lok Sabha poll campaign and head to Kanniyakumari on Thursday for a two-day meditation at the iconic Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Meanwhile, the Congress lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India stating that PM Modi’s proposed Kanniyakumari  visit is in violation “silence period” provision of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) amKannid the Lok Sabha Elections.

Speaking about why the PM chose to mediate at Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Sitharaman said the Lok Sabha campaign has been hectic long-drawn with PM Modi addressing numerous interviews. “For someone who has done this, after the campaign is over and silence period comes in, he is doing his meditation and that too in silence. He is not speaking or addressing sessions. He is just meditating,” Sitharaman said.

During the interview,  she said the PM has a close association with the Ramakrishna Math and great respect for Swami Vivekananda. “It is believed in Tamil Nadu that Goddess Kanniyakumari, after which the city and district are named, did tapasya on that rock. The impression of her holy feet are there on that rock,” Sitharaman told CNN-News18.

According to her, the rock memorial was built with the help of the RSS and Eknath Ramakrishna Ranade had spoken to Lal Bahadur Shastri for this. “It is a sacred piece of rock associated with Goddess Kanniyakumari, and then Swami Vivekananda did tapasya there before he went to Chicago,” the senior BJP leader said.