Ram Setu affidavit, result of 'trade-off' between govt, DMK chief

New Delhi, Jul 24 (UNI) The VHP today called the government's recent affidavit on Ram Setu in the Supreme Court a result of trade-off with the DMK to save its government and asserted that reference to Kamban Ramayan in it was ''absolutely false''.

''Congress president Sonia Gandhi has traded-off breaking of the Ram Setu with the safety of the UPA government with DMK chief Karunanidhi during the recent vote of confidence motion,'' VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia told UNI.

The caustic affidavit, third by the government, coming right after the trial of strength was a testimony to this, he said, adding there was no reference of Lord Rama breaking the Ram Setu in Kamban Ramayana as was being claimed by the government.

''The reference is totally misleading, untrue and malicious. In contrast, the Kamban Ramayana talks of how Lord Rama, while returning from Lanka on the 'pushpak viman', shows Sita, the Setu and talks of the virtues of its 'darshan','' he said.

The whole exercise of submitting the affidavit has been to please the DMK ally by the government, he said, while stressing that this was one of the most cruel games the Centre was playing with the sentiments of the Hindus.

He also warned the government against ''playing with fire'' on the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) issue, saying the 'balidan' (sacrifice) by a man in Jammu yesterday should be taken seriously.

''This was the sign of things to come as people were now prepared to go to any extent to get their due rights and not let the government trample upon their sentiments and faith, ''Mr Togadia added.

If the government does not wake up in time, it would be responsible for all the consequences that would follow, Mr Togadia said.

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