By IANS
New Delhi : Culture Minister Ambika Soni sounded despondent after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday to brief him about a government affidavit that has sparked a huge row by questioning the existence of god Ram.
“I have explained to the prime minister the course of events. I have submitted all the papers. He heard me patiently. I am content with the meeting,” Soni told reporters after her nearly 30-minute talks at Singh’s official residence here.
“I am a loyal Congress worker and would abide by the decision of the party president,” she said, when asked if she would put in her papers over the issue that has embarrassed the ruling party.
Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, who is also the minister of state for commerce, and R.K. Dhawan had suggested that Soni should step down over the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) affidavit. The ASI has since withdrawn the affidavit, and Ramesh has regretted his public remarks.
A visibly upset Soni maintained that she was not hurt by the attacks from within her party.
“There is no such thing (as feeling hurt) in politics. One has to learn and go ahead,” she said, sounding despondent.
“I have been honest. But I realise that it is tough to be honest and it is not enough. You may have to do other things also,” she said.
Although Soni had been trying to meet the prime minister for the last few days to explain her position, she could not do so as Manmohan Singh was advised rest after his prostate surgery last weekend.
The minister had cancelled plans to attend the IncredibleIndia@60 festival in New York, pending the meeting with Manmohan Singh.
Soni, who has in the past expressed her willingness to quit over the row, had earlier met Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
The ASI functions under Soni’s ministry of culture. The affidavit was filed to justify the government plan to build a canal in the sea dividing India and Sri Lanka.
The BJP and its affiliates say the canal will destroy the Ram Sethu, supposedly a bridge believed to have been built during the Ramayana era.
The offending affidavit – and its hurried withdrawal — provided ammunition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and allied Hindu groups that have been opposing the shipping canal project.