By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: Drawing lessons from the unfinished task of the campaign to construct Ram Mandir at the very spot where the demolished Babri Masjid existed, the rightist Bharatiya Janata Party, (BJP), in its ongoing national executive meeting here passed a resolution today to support the campaign to protect Ram Setu (Adam’s Bridge) from being demolished.
Throwing light on the resolution, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who moved it, while
talking to newspersons here on Saturday said the movement for the protection, preservation and declaration of the Setu as a national heritage monument is being conducted by the Rameshwaram Ram Setu Raksha Manch to which BJP would lend whole-hearted support. He made it clear that BJP would not directly take up the campaign.
Replying to a question Joshi unhesitatingly said:” BJP did not demolish Babri Masjid. We had never promised to construct the Ram temple at Ayodhya ourselves, but had promised support to the endeavor undertaken by trusts like the Ram Janma Bhoomi Nyas,” adding “we will also extend all possible support to the Manch for preservation the Setu”.
Joshi stressed it is a national issue supported by the people cutting across political parties, religious creeds and beliefs and the party would render all the support needed by the Samiti from the BJP.
To buttress his claim of all-religion’s respect to the Ram Setu, he said Hindus, Muslims and Christians revere the bridge as Setu Mandir, Rama Setu, Adampul, Adam’s bridge , Adi Setu etc. Whenever the boats of fishermen of any one of these community dashed against this Ram Setu by mistake they would ask forgiveness for it, he pointed out.
However, Joshi said, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, (UPA), Government did not respect the sentiments of the people and filed a sacrilegious affidavit denying the very existence of lord Ram. He said displaying such ignorance UPA Govt. does not deserve to stay in office, he added.
“The BJP is whole-heartedly committed to protect the Setu as a national heritage, which can be easily saved by realigning the Samudram Setu Canal Project, (SSCP). The BJP demands an unqualified apology from the UPA government and also demands for fixing the responsibility for drafting such a sacrilegious affidavit”, the resolution said.
Strongly condemning the affidavits submitted by the ASI on the Ram Setu issue in the Supreme Court, he said instead of totally withdrawing the “blasphemous” affidavit and apologizing for its submission, the UPA government has even failed to identify as to who drafted it and at what level it was approved.
“The Center is now trying to submit a supplementary affidavit and the Shipping Ministry wants to file an appeal against the stay granted by the Supreme Court,” he claimed adding “utter confusion prevailing on this issue in Congress party has been reflected in the war of attrition going on between various leaders blaming each other for this fiasco.
Reiterating the demand for declaring Ram Setu as a world heritage monument, Joshi said his party disapproves the diversionary tactics adopted by certain groups by raising slogans and arguments which tend to divide people on the basis of geographical, linguistic and racial theories, which have long been rejected by scholars and the people as well.
“Congress will be solely responsible for any disturbance in the country’s fabric caused by divisive forces by making statements aimed at inciting communal passion,” Joshi said.
“If the constituents of the UPA government continue to insult Ram, the inescapable conclusion
would be that the Congress-led alliance also approves such statements and is conniving with such acts of national shame,” he alleged.
Accusing the Center of ignoring expert advice to re-align the Setu Samudram Canal project, he said “instead of a canal project in the sea, if a land-based project is mooted, the BJP will welcome it”. ([email protected])