DOES THE ROBE REMIND YOU OF TAGORE OR `THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES'?

TT, 19 May 2019: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (below) after praying at Kedarnath Temple on Saturday during his two-day pilgrimage to Himalayan shrines in Rudraprayag. Modi is scheduled to visit Badrinath on Sunday. 

ANI, the news agency that uploaded several pictures of the Prime Minister during the day, quoted unnamed "sources" travelling with the Prime Minister to explain the significance of Modi's attire. (PTI picture) 

The headgear is "Himachali topi", the "sources" told ANI The "sources" told ANI that the "saffron belt" was a homage to Swami Vivekananda 

The "sources" identified this as a "jobba" and claimed that it was "made trendy" by Tagore ANI added that the attire "seemed to be an apparent signal to the voters of West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh, who will exercise their franchise tomorrow (Sunday)" 

THE CODE: CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury saw the public display of religion as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). "Religion is a matter of personal faith and EC has reiterated that it cannot be used for garnering votes.

But Modi violates the MCC brazenly with footage of his Kedarnath religious activity over TV channels during silent period before polling. And EC continues to sleep on the job.".