Left cautions UPA Govt on abandoning Sethu Project

Chennai, Sep 18 (UNI) Lending support to the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre over the Ram Sethu controversy, Left parties today cautioned it against abandoning the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP) under pressure from ''communal forces.'' Addressing a meeting organised by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) at Thailapuram in Villupuram District of the state last evening,CPI General Secretary D Raja said the Centre should go ahead with the implementation of the project unmindful of the hue and cry being made by the ''communal forces'' in the name of Lord Ram.

Asserting there was no scientific evidence to prove that Ram Sethu was constructed by Lord Rama's ''Vanara Sena,'' he said the Adam's Bridge was nothing but a chain of shoals and the fact was confirmed by scientists of NASA.

He flayed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sangh Parivar for whipping up religious sentiments and ''politicising'' the SSCP.

The Left Leader charged the BJP and the Sangh Parivar with raking up the Ram Sethu issue and protesting against its demolition, while implementing the SSCP, with an eye on vote bank.

CPI(M) Tamil Nadu Secretary N Varadarajan expressed surprise the Centre had sought three months time to consider alternative route to avoid demolition of Ram Sethu.

He regretted that the Manmohan Singh Government, instead of being firm in its decision to go ahead with the project as decided already, was unnecessarily succumbing to the pressure of the ''communal forces.'' The Centre should implement the project within the stipulated time, he added.

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