BJP flays Centre for hurting Hindu sentiments

New Delhi, Oct 15 (UNI) Condemning the Centre's affidavit in Supreme Court that Ram Sethu not integral part of Hindu religion, the BJP today said it was one more deliberate, consistent and conscious attempt to hurt Hindu sentiments.

''The Government first questioned the existence of Lord Rama but hurriedly withdrew it following an uproar. Later, the Government contended that Lord Rama himself destroyed the bridge after his return from Sri Lanka based on 'wrong, spurious and selective reading' of a certain scripture which was immediately contested learned men. Now the Government wants to say that bridge of faith is not a place of worship or integral part of Hindu religion,'' BJP spokesman Ravishankar Prasad told newspersons.

''We want to ask the Government, the basis on which it had assumed the role to decide whether it is an integral part of Hindu religion or not. What is the historical, philosophical, cultural and spiritual basis for taking this stand? We strongly condemn this attitude and take exception to such derogatory stand taken by the Government. The saga of Lord Rama is very much part of India and its heritage and he is very much the national psyche and asked if the Government could take similar stance concerning the faiths and beliefs of other religions. This is the vote bank politics at its is worst and people will give a fitting reply to such conscious abuses aimed to hurt millions of Hindus across the country and the globe, he said.

UNI MCN KAS SB BD1650