Setusamudram issue: Baalu doing mischief

Bangalore, May 23: Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sri Jyothir Peet and Dwaraka Peet Sri Swaroopnandji Maharaj today charged Union Shipping and Road Transport Minister T R Baalu with playing 'mischief' with regard to Sethusamudram Project and urged people across the country to wage a peaceful fight against implementation of the project.

Speaking to newsmen here the Shankaracharya said the issue had been deliberated at the historic summit meet of Acharyas of the four Amnaya Peetas established by Adi Shankara held here recently and it was decided to submit a proposal to the centre to protect Ram Sethu, the bridge built by Sri Ram in Treta Yuga.

Replying to questions he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was briefed about the historical importance of the bridge and he referred the issue to Mr Baalu. However, Mr Baalu had not shown much interest in resolving the issue, he felt.

The Shankaracharya clarified that there was no politics involved in the issue and it involved the feelings of the Hindus. They would not hesitate to join together across the country and take to the streets if the centre decided to demolish the bridge, he warned.

Answering a question he said the Shankaracharyas of the four Amnaya Peetas would also approach the court in their pursuit of justice soon.

The Shankaracharya said there was an alternative alignment to prevent demolition of bridge and continue with the project. If the centre was so keen on implementing this alignment its representatives could discuss with the Shankaracharyas, he added. He said satellite pictures taken by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the United States established that Ram Sethu was constructed about 17.5 lakh years ago and that it was not a natural bridge but a bridge constructed by humans. There could not be any doubt that such a bridge across the vast sea was possible to be constructed only by Sri Rama, who was an avatar of Lord Vishnu and none else. Pictures taken by Indian satellites also established that Ram Sethu was still stable and solid at six feet below the sea.

It was also established that both hot and cold waters flowed around the Ram Sethu.

He regretted that the centre, for frugal commercial benefits, had decided to demolish the historic and epic structure revered by millions of Hindus all over the world. Any damage to Ram Sethu would trigger natural calamities like Tsunami and hurricane and cause extensive damage to the coastal areas of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, he cautioned.

UNI

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