Rally in Delhi on May 13 to oppose Sethusamudram canal project

Nagpur, Apr 19 (UNI) Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Swarupananda Saraswati today said the Shankaracharyas of all the four 'Peeths' would participate in a rally, to be held in New Delhi on May 13, to oppose the destruction of the Ram Setu for Sethusamudram Canal Project (SSCP).

The project envisages destruction of the RamSetu (Adam's Bridge), the ancient structure between India and Sri Lanka, be replaced by a shipping canal, linking Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar, through Rameshwaram. It would enable ships to save 16 hours of voyage of 400 nautical miles around Sri Lanka, thereby saving fuel worth crores of rupees every year.

Speaking to Media, Swami Swarupananda said the Shankaracharyas of all the four 'Peeths' would participate in the rally, which would be preceded by meetings all over the country to create awareness about the government's intentions to damage the structure and to mobilise public opinion against the project.

The four Shankaracharyas would also take out a 'yatra' to Rameshwaram in South India from Bangalore on May 18 to oppose the SSCP, he said.

Any attempt to harm the Ram Setu ought to be opposed as it would hurt the sentiments of millions of Hindus and it would also upset the delicate ecological and climatic balance in the area, the Swami said.

Experts apprehend that damage to the structure would result in deadly Tsunamis in South India, he added.

The Swami said every individual must send at least 12 messages from his or her mobile telephone to lodge protest against the proposed project.

The religious leaders would approach the Supreme Court, if necessary, to get the project scrapped, he added.

UNI