Dr. Praveen Togadia demands PM’s apology on Ram Sethu issue

Kochi, Sept. 16 (PTI): The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should apologise to the nation on the ‘Ram Setu’ issue.

Two officials of the Archaeological Survey of India had been made “scapegoats” for the affidavit on Lord Ram filed in the Supreme Court on the issue. “I do not believe in blame games. The government should take the responsibility and the Prime Minister should apologise,” VHP secretary general Praveen Togadia told reporters here.

The VHP was against politicising the ‘Ram Setu’ issue and would not use it as an electoral plank in case of mid-term polls, he said.

“The Ram Setu issue should not be made a political or electoral issue. It is an issue of Hindu society in total and Hindus of all castes and creeds and political parties should come together to defend the historic bridge.”

Togadia said the issue was bigger than the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid issue in Ayodhya.

He claimed two consitutents of the Congress-led UPA government have promised their support on the issue. Asked to name the parties, he declined, saying they were regional parties.

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