Rakshana Vedika issues 'ultimatum' to Centre over Ram-sethu

Vijayawada, Oct 6 (UNI) The 'Rameswaram Ram-sethu Rakshana Vedika' today issued an 'ultimatum' to the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre to declare Ram-sethu as a 'national monument'by November 20.

Talking to newspersons here, the Vedika's National Convenor and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) National Secretary Y Raghavulu said the Dharmacharyas across the country will assemble before the deadline, at Ayodhya on November 13 and in Chennai on November 17 to announce the next course of action of launching a big movement if the Centre failed to act on the issue.

He said to protect the Ram-sethu from demolition and to mount pressure on the UPA Government, the 'Rakshana Santh Mandali' had met at New Delhi on September 28 and decided to launch a series of programmes across the country till October 10.

He said from October 12 to October 25, the 'Rakshana Vedika' will enroll lakhs of people from 4,00,000 villages and cities in the country. The 'Vedika' would also provide them 'Hanuman Chalisa' for chanting 'Mahamantram'.

On Maharshi Valmiki Jayanthi on October 26, several lakh from cities and villages were expected to participate in the conference.

He said from November 20 to December 10, 'Ram-sethu Rakshana Maha Yagnam' and 'Ram-sethu Sila Yatra' (processions in villages by carrying stones removed from the sea) would be held.

On Karthika Poornima Day on November 24, women would take out 'Deepa Samarpanam' in the sea and rivers across the country.

Mr Raghavulu also criticised DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for his adverse remarks on Lord Rama and justified the 'fatwa'against him.

UNI