In a fresh affidavit before the supreme court, the government claims the Setu is ‘not an integral part of Hinduism’
In a fresh affidavit before the supreme court, the government claims the Setu is ‘not an integral part of Hinduism’
NEW DELHI: Even as a six-member panel led by Nobel laureate RK Pachauri is ascertaining the feasibility of an alternate alignment that should avert damage to Ram Sethu during the construction of a channel, the Union government has reiterated that the controversial Sethu or Adam’s Bridge isn’t a place of worship.
When completed, the gigantic Sethusamudram Shipping Channel would save 36 hours of sailing time by ships between Western India and Eastern coast.
In its fresh detailed affidavit filed before the supreme court that’s seized of a petition seeking protection of the ancient Ram Sethu, the government says the Sethu is not an integral part of Hinduism.
According to the affidavit, which contains replies to various petitions filed in favour of the Ram Sethu, including by AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, Lord Ram had himself destroyed the bridge while returning from Ravan’s Lanka (present day Sri Lanka).
The Sethusamudram Shipping channel project was conceived during the NDA government in 2002. It is being built along what is known as the alignment 6 that cuts through the mythological Ram Sethu.
The government chose this alignment, as it does not affect the marine biological park off Rameshwaram Island in the Gulf of Mannar. Another “alignment 4? was abandoned by the government as it would have cut across the landmass of the Rameshwaram Island, besides damaging the marine biological park.
Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy has sought quashing of the project on various grounds including that it hurts the religious sentiments of a large number of Hindus.
Meanwhile, the court stayed the operations at the project but allowed the government to proceed with the dredging operations.
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