After Meditating in Kedarnath, PM Modi Offers Prayers at Badrinath
The visit comes after the EC gave PMO the go-ahead, reminding it that the Model Code of Conduct is still in place.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 19 May, paid obeisance and performed puja at the Badrinath temple on the second day of his two-day visit to Uttarakhand. Modi offered prayers at the innermost sanctum in Badrinath, another temple in Uttarakhand's 'char dham' religious circuit, dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Modi offered prayers at Badrinath temple after he emerged from the cave in Kedarnath where he was reported to have entered into an 18-hour-long meditation overnight, ahead of the Lok Sabha election results scheduled to be announced on 23 May.
According to a PTI report, PM Modi thanked the Election Commission for granting him permission to visit the Kedarnath shrine at a time when the model code of conduct is in force.
After offering morning prayers at the Kedarnath temple, Modi addressed the media, stating that he was “privileged to meditate in the cave.”
According to an India Today report, the 10 feet by 8 feet cave where Modi meditated was ‘WiFi and telephone-enabled’, and also had an adjoining toilet with basic facilities.
He further elaborated on his plans for Kedarnath, stating that he had a master plan in place for the holy shrine. “My development mission for Kedarnath includes plans for nature, environment and tourism,” he said.
The Prime Minister will now head towards the Badrinath shrine, reported news agency ANI.
PM Modi Offers Payers at Kedarnath Shrine
Modi had, on Saturday, 18 May, offered prayers at the Himalayan shrine of Kedarnath, a day after campaigning for the general elections came to a close.
He reached the Jolly Grant airport in the morning from where he directly came to Kedarnath, officials said.
Modi also took stock of development work in the temple town. Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh briefed the prime minister about the restoration work in the Kedarnath shrine. Modi later took an all-terrain vehicle to review the reconstruction work.
The town was devastated in a series of cloudbursts in 2013. This is Modi's fourth visit to the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in the last two years. He will offer prayers at Badrinath on Sunday, 19 May.
The portals of both the shrines were reopened for devotees after the winter break early this month.
BJP Uttarakhand President Ajay Bhatt said this is “just a spiritual visit” and the people of the state are excited for it.
Stringent security arrangements have been made for the prime minister's visit, DGP (law and order) Ashok Kumar said.
The Election Commission had given its nod to the visit while "reminding" the prime minister's office that the model code of conduct is still in force. Polling for the seventh and the last phase of the general election will be held Sunday.
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