Centre's affidavit on Setu an affront on Hindu sentiments: VHP

Chennai, Oct 15 (UNI) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today condemned the latest affidavit filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court that Lord Rama had destroyed the Ram Setu bridge, as an affront on the sentiments of million of Hindus.

In a statement here, VHP International Working President S Vedantam said the reference to Kamban Ramayana in the affidavit that the breaches in Ram Sethu were caused by Lord Rama, had already been proved to be false.

By filing such an affidavit, the Centre was trying to influence the Pachauri Committee formed to examine whether alternative routes could be taken to save Ram Setu which was on alignment six, he alleged.

The Centre was indulging in ''suggestio falsi and suppressio veri'' as the affidavit did not refer to the fact that the Ram Setu functioned as a bridge between India and Sri Lanka right upto the 18th century as recorded in Royal Asiatic Society research archives.

''People from both sides had been using this as a causeway for centuries. If so, how could there have been a breach in the Sethu,'' Mr Vedantham said and accused the Centre of searching for alibis in a desperate bid to hurt the sentiments of billions of Hindus.

UNI GV SJ AKJ RK1858