EC cracks the whip on Swami Ramdev's yoga camps

Congress candidates have approached the EC complaining that camps of Ramdev and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar are being used to support BJP and Modi and there should a ban on them till the election process is over.

A recent order of the EC states that "there shall be no formal and publicised inaugural or closing ceremony with political functionaries as chief guests and special invitees," at such camps.

Ramdev's camp was recently addressed by BJP PM nominee Narendra Modi, following which the yoga guru was issued a notice by the poll authorities for violating the Model Code of Conduct.

The order makes it clear that any direct or indirect political message from the camp will be viewed seriously and the entire expenditure will be treated as having made on election campaigning and booked under relevant provisions of the election expenditure of contesting candidates under election laws.