Religious leaders protest against Ram Sethu affidavit

New Delhi, Sep 23 (UNI) Religious leaders and organisations today staged a dharna at Rajghat here to protest against the affidavit filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court on the Ram Sethu issue challenging the existence of Lord Rama.

The religious leaders urged the government to protect the national heritage and devise a means to have an alternate arrangement which would save the Ram Sethu 'bridge' and also serve the purpose of the government.

Organised by 'Delhi Sant Mahamandal', 'Sanatan Dharam' and other religious cults, the dharna saw participation of the swamies like Hansraj Maharaj, Swami Raghav Nand, Mahant Surender Nath ji Awdhoot, Mahant Naval Kishore Das, Mahant Krishan Ramdas, Vidyarthi Maharaj among others.

A team of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) including their ministers Surender Jain, B L Sharma, Regional Party President OM Prakash Singal, Sanatan Dharam Pratinidhi Sabha Chairman Manohar lal Kumar, General Secretary Bhushan Lal Parashar, Ramlila Maha Sangh Sukhbir Secretary Sharan Aggarwal, Rameshwaram Ramsethu Convenor Rashtra Prakash and Dharam Yatra Mahasangh Secretary Mange Ram Garg also participated in the agitation at Bapu's Samadhi.

The sentiments of the Hindus should be protected and the sanctity of the Ramsethu should be restored, they said. The affidavit filed by the Surface Transport Ministry stating that there is no proof of the existence of Lord Rama has hurt the sentiments of the Hindus, they said.

"Have we to prove Lord Ram's existence? Should ''Ram'' written on Gandhiji's samdhi be removed? If so be the case then "RAM" is present in every particle and each one of us. Then should we all be removed? '' Mahant Surender Nath Awdhoot said, adding that ''Lord Ram is omnipresent and does not require any proof.'' UNI