BJP to organise padayatras demanding "Ramar Sethu" protection

Madurai, Mar 6 (UNI) Demanding a change in the alignment of the Sethu Samudram Shipping Channel Project to the save the mythical ''Ramar Sethu'', the BJP will organise three padayatras and a rathyatra.

Addressing mediapersons here today, BJP Tamil Nadu President L Ganesan made it clear that the BJP was not opposed to the project, but it wanted the ''Ramar Sethu'' to be protected.

Three padayatras, one from Vilathikulam in Thoothukudi District, another from Devakottai in Sivaganga District and the third from here, would converge at Ramanathapuram from where a massive rathyatra to Rameswaram would be organised, he said.

Mr Ganesan said the dates for the proposed padayatras would be finalised at the party state executive committee meeting on March 11.

He regretted that the government had dumped three other alternative alignments proposed for the multi-crore project.

The mythical ''Ramar Sethu'' is a chain of sandstone formation beneath the shallow sea in the Adams Bridge area off Dhanushkodi, extending upto Talaimannar in Sri Lanka, he claimed.

On Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumarasamy's pilgrimage in Tamil Nadu, the BJP leader said the peaceful visit was in stark contrast to the situation prevalent in Karnataka, where Tamil film shooting could not be held and vehicles from Tamil Nadu could not ply freely.

It was for Mr Kumarasamy to facilitate return of normalcy, he added.

To a question, he said the party was yet to decide on entering into an alliance for the by-election for the Madurai West Assembly constituency. Any decision on this could be made only after the Election Commission's announcement.

UNI