BJP open to alliance with any political party in TN: Rajnath

Rameswaram, Aug 1 (UNI) BJP President Rajnath Singh today said his party was ready to forge an alliance with any political party in Tamil Nadu.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Singh, who was here to attend the 'Ram Dhanur Pooja' organised by the Ram Setu Protection Movement, said ''we are open-minded on the matter of alliance and ready to forge an alliance with any political party in the state.'' To a query, he alleged that the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu under the DMK-rule was ''not good.'' On the Ram Setu issue, he said the party would strongly oppose any move to demolish the ''sacred Setu.'' He demanded that the Centre conduct a thorough study of the 'historic water,' on which the Ram Setu existed, before taking any decision. If the BJP was voted to power, the party would order a fresh and detailed study of the 'historic water' and declare Ram Setu a national monument, he added.

The government should ensure that fishermen were not affected by the implementation of the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) along an alternative route, Mr Singh said.

To a question on the Centre refusing to declare Ram Setu a national monument on some parameters, he said some amendments could be made to the parameters to declare it as a national monument.

Mr Singh said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should raise the issue of fishermen at the SAARC Summit and restore their fishing rights as per the 1974 Indo-Sri Lankan Agreement.

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