VHP to start nation wide agitation from Aug 26

Vijayawada, Aug 2: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) National Secretary and All India Rameswaram Ramasethu Parirakshana Vedika Convenor Raghavulu today said a series of agitations will be conducted from August 26, against the demolition of the 'Ramasethu' also known as 'Adams Bridge.' Talking to newspersons here, he said the 'Ramasethu Parirakshana Vedika' had also given a call to observe fasting in villages across the country on August 12.

He said a memorandum would be sent to President, Prime Minister and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on the issue.

Mr Raghavulu said a 'Chalo Rameswaram' call was also given, in which lakhs of people across the country would assemble at Ramsethu on August 26. They would have a darshan of ''Ramasethu'' and perform ''Yagnas'' at the spot, he said.

He said two days later, the forum would perform 'Ramasethu Raksha Bandan' on the Raksha Bandan Day.

He said on September four, the volunteers will go to several villages in the country to enlighten the people on the issue. From September 27 to October 10, Sadhus from all over the country will visit villages to enrol ''Raksha Dalam'' for opposing the demolition.

Mr Raghavulu also said from November 20 to December 20 'Ramasethu Sila Yatra' would be taken up through processions by Dharmacharyas in every village and mandal. Later, ''Ramasethu Raksha Yagnas'' would be performed in the mandals by the Dharmacharyas.

He said scores of Hindus had written letters to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to drop the idea of demolishing the Ramsethu Bridge.

Mr Ragahavulu said former President A P J Abdul Kalam, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court Krishna Iyer and Hindu religious leaders had also written letters to Prime Minister opposing the demolition of Adams Bridge. He said in a recently concluded meeting at Ramalila maidan in New Delhi, 5,000 'dharmacharyas' and mutt heads had strongly opposed the Sethu Samudram Channel Project by the UPA government.

He alleged that lakhs of fishermen will lose their jobs and the coastal areas in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala would be adversly affected if the natural rocky underwater fortress was demolished.

The Adams Bridge had also protected the Indian peninsula to some extent during the tsunami in December 2004.

The thorium deposits of around 3.6 lakh tonne would deplete if the dredging activity continued, he added.

UNI