'Rameswaram Chalo' on August 26

Chennai, Aug 5 (UNI) Over two lakh sadhus and devotees from all over the country will participate in 'Rameswaram Chalo' organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) at Rameswaram on August 26, to press their demand for stopping work in the Sethusamudram Canal Project (SSCP).

Addressing a press conference here today, VHP International Executive President S Vedantham said they would pledge to save the Ram Setu from dredging.

The VHP would also organise a one-day fast at 200 places across the country on August 12. A similar fast would be observed at Chennai on that day under the leadership of Shri Vishweswara Theertha swamigal of Pejawar Mutt, he added.

Replying to a question, he said Tamil Nadu government and the SSCP officials had the ''least respect'' for public opinion and sentiments of the devotees of Lord Rama.

He condemned the Centre's action for bulldozing 20 per cent of the structures.

''We must save at least the rest of the structures and stop all their actions on this project forthwith,'' he added.

He wanted to know why the SSCP Chairman did not cite the Centre's report that pre-historic human activity in Ram Setu was a fact, during his recent press briefing.

He also raised apprehension that dredging of Ram Setu would cause depletion of thorium deposits.

''This is a ploy of the US for not allowing us to become a super power,'' the VHP leader alleged pointing to the unabated work on the Project.

UNI