Ram Setu: Sonia seeks clarification on ASI stand
New
Delhi,
Sep
13:
UPA
Chairperson
Sonia
Gandhi
has
sought
"clarification" from
the
government
on
the
stand
taken
by
the
Archaeological
Survey
of
India
(ASI)
putting
a
question
mark
on
the
very
existence
of
Ramsethu
and
mythological
characters
mentioned
in
the
Ramayana.
"Yes...Ms Gandhi has sought clarification from the government," AICC General Secretary in charge of media Janardhan Dwivedi confirmed, when asked about reports that Ms Gandhi had expressed concern over the stand taken by the ASI.
The ASI had said in its affidavit before the Supreme Court yesterday that there was no archaeological evidence to establish the existence of Lord Ram or other characters of the Ramayana.
Denying that Ramsethu or Adam"s Bridge is a man-made structure, the ASI argued that 'Ramcharitmanas' by Tulsidas cannot be be taken as a historical record.
The ASI filed the affidavit in response to three petitions, transferred from the Madras High Court to the apex court, challenging the government's decision to construct the Sethusamudram Canal Project on the Tamil Nadu coast.
Hindus believe that Ram Setu was built by Lord Rama with the help of Hanuman's 'Vanar Sena' to cross over to Sri Lanka to free his wife Sita from the captivity of 'demon king' Ravana.
UNI