Sethu Project against India's interest: Sudarshan

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, Jan 21 (UNI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Sarsanghchalak K S Sudarshan has said the Sethusamudram Project is against the country's interest.

''There is scant need to demolish the Palk Strait's Ram Sethu, which is the centre of faith for crores of Indians. The canal will lead to unemployment of lakhs of fisherfolk,'' he said here at the RSS Central Zone Workers' Convention that began yesterday.

Mr Sudarshan reached here on January 19 to take part in a meeting of office-bearers of Mahakaushal region, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

''The livelihood of 16 lakh fisherfolk in 138 villages -- across five districts of Tamil Nadu -- will be endangered by the demolition, which will affect aquatic life and the environment. A reserve of thorium, crucial for the nuclear programme, will be swept away if the Sethu is demolished. In that situation, India would have to ink agreements with other countries for thorium and that might endanger sovereignty,'' he added.

UNI XC-AC SG RK2000