Uma on hunger strike to protest Ram Setu 'demolition'

Lucknow, July 24 (UNI) Bhartiya Janshakti Party president and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti today started her hunger strike against the demolition of the Ram Setu claiming that it will create unemployment for three million fishermen of both India and Sri Lanka.

Addressing a press conference here before leaving for Ayodhya, Ms Bharti said she will not allow the demolition of Ram Setu for the Setu Samuduram project linking India and Sri Lanka.

Claiming that there is no politics involved in staging a hunger strike at Ayodhya, she said as criminal cases have been registered against her at Tamil Nadu due to the agitation, she decided to launch her tirade from the holy city.

Ms Bharti will sit on hunger strike for next seven days at Digamber Akhara in Ayodhya.

Talking about the Ram setu, she said NASA imagery had already proved the presence of the setu under the surface of the water and the Geological Survey of India(GSI) has also found rocks attached to each other at the spot.

''Development should be growth oriented. But the Centre was constructing the Setu Sumudram over the Ram Setu which will certaily create unemployment for over three million fishermen of both the countries,'' the former Union minister for coal and mines in the NDA government said.

Ms Bharti said she will go to Tamil Nadu after her hunger strike to get bail so that the agitation can to spearheaded throughout the country.

She also sought support from the saints, sadhus and people from all walks of life to protect the centuries old Ram Setu.

The former MP CM also urged the Centre to promote tourism to attract people to see the underwater Ram setu which will enable the country to earn huge revenue.

UNI