VHP warns of intense movement if UPA goes ahead with Sethu project

Kolkata, Sep 24 (UNI) Vishwa Hindu Parishad(VHP) general secretary Pravin Togadia today warned of an aggressive movement if the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance(UPA) government at the Centre did not refrain from destroying the Ram Sethu.

''We have no objection if the Centre goes ahead with the Sethu Samudram project, but we will oppose the destruction of the Ram sethu. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led UPA government will be held responsible for the destruction of the sethu, '' Mr Togadia told newspersons here.

He claimed that nearly four lakh fishermen, who largely depended on fishing near the sethu, would be unemployed if the Centre went ahead with the project ignoring their plight.

He also claimed that the huge deposit of Thorium near the sethu could generate four lakh MW of power against the requirement of 1,40,000 MW of power for the next 400 years, but the US wanted to destroy the Ram sethu and the Thorium deposit would be washed away shattering India's hope to emerge as the most powerful country in the electricity generation.

The Communists did not believe in the Almighty and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had been deliberately hurting the religious psyche of the Hindus by advocating the destruction of Ram sethu, he averred.

He said the VHP would not allow the Ram sethu to be given a political colour.

Dr Togadia said the ''Rameswaram Ram Sethu Surakhya Manch'' would organise a nationwide agitational programme from September 27 to October 10 to undertake padayatra throughout the country, hold Ram sethu rallies for public awareness and Ram sethu puja at all places.

UNI