Realign SSCP is VHP’s plea

NT Bureau
Chennai, Apr 17:
 

Spiritual leader Dayananda Saraswathi and VHP leader Ashok Singhal at a press meet in Chennai today.  Photo: R Giri

Vishva Hindu Parishad’s international president Ashok Singhal today called for realignment of the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project (SSCP) leaving the Ram Sethu bridge unscathed and wanted it to be officially notified as an ancient monument using the analogy of Brahma Sarovar at Kurukshetra.

Speaking to reporters here, Singhal charged it was due to the pressure from USA which made Congress president Sonia Gandhi to inaugurate the SSCP to make the Palk Strait as international waters to help the American government.

‘If Ram Sethu is demolished then it would destroy thorium, large deposits of which are found in the place,’ he said adding that it had to be saved for making Bharat a self-reliant nuclear power and as it is one of our top national imperatives.

With reference to the impact of tsunami and cultural concerns, Singhal said the government should order re-evaluation of alternative alignment.

Spiritual leader Dayananda Saraswathi said this was not a political issue but purely an appeal to re-route the project and canal and save Ram Sethu. ‘At the same time we are not against the project but suggesting alternative routes which are of short distance and economical.’

‘We don’t the project to be dropped and this is a prayer to the government to save the Ram Sethu,’ he added.

Responses