Author: Haran.B.R
Publication: Haindava Keralam
Date: March 1, 2008
URL: http://haindavakeralam.com/HKPage.aspx?PageID=5678&SKIN=B
The Madras High Court in its historic Judgment
on the 19th of June 2007, accepted the existence of the Manmade Rama Sethu
and suggested the Government of India to declare Rama Sethu as a "National
Heritage Monument" as per "The Ancient Monuments and Archeological
Sites and Remains Act, 1958" and directed it to file a reply affidavit.
But, the GOI chose to ignore the suggestion and direction of Madras HC and
transferred the cases to Supreme Court, and after dodging on the important
and sensitive issue for two more months, filed an arrogant & insensitive
affidavit in September 2007, denying the historicity of Lord Ram, truth of
Ramayana and existence of Rama Sethu, hurting the religious sentiments of
millions of Hindus worldwide. As a consequence, when nationwide protests were
conducted by millions of people, the GOI shamelessly withdrew the affidavit
and since then it has been dodging for the last five months.
Now, the Congress led GOI has filed an affidavit
requesting the Supreme Court for a vacation of its interim orders saying that
there is no evidence for a manmade structure, relying on the recommendation
of the so-called "committee of eminent persons" constituted by the
DMK to accomplish its self-serving agenda. The government has added in its
affidavit that, "The GOI should not be called upon to respond to issues
of faith, except in recognizing their faith". This very same government,
while hurriedly & shamelessly withdrawing the previous affidavit, boasted
& declared in front of the whole nation that, "Lord Rama is as real
as the Himalayas and the Ganges". Why can't a government, which accepts
the reality of Lord Rama, accept the reality of the bridge constructed by
him?
The government has also averred in its present
affidavit that, "A secular state cannot espouse the cause of any religion,
faith or belief". If so, what is the meaning behind the constitution
of HR & CE departments? Why the states of Tamilnadu, Andhra, Kerala and
Karnataka are wreaking havoc in Hindu religious affairs? Why did Rajiv Gandhi's
government bring an amendment for the sake of Muslim Clerics in the 'Shah
Bano' case? Why was the Delhi Metro diverted for the sake of the Moghul Monument
Kutthub Minar? If a developmental project can deviate for the sake of a few
hundred years old monument, why can't a similar project deviate for the sake
of thousands of years old ancient & sacred monument?
As such, the affidavit gives a confusing picture.
A deeper look gives three postures to it. Firstly, it might be a tactical
move by the Congress Party trying to keep itself away from religious sensitivities,
while at the same time placating its important ally DMK. Tomorrow, in case
if the SC's verdict goes against the project, it can always put the blame
on SC and escape from the wrath of DMK. Secondly, it might be a well-conceived
move by both Congress & DMK, that is, Congress not repeating the September
mistake & DMK sticking to its stand of implementing the project at any
cost. In the event of a verdict against the project, both of them can save
their face and need not cut a sorry figure while facing the people. Congress
can boldly face the people with great relief and DMK can tell the "Tamils"
that it fought bravely till the end! Thirdly, it might be a combined last-ditch
attempt by both the parties to fight for the vacation of stay and dismissal
of the petitions filed against the project.
Also, from our perspective of the present
affidavit is in no way different from the previous one. The September affidavit
openly declared that Rama & Rama Sethu are myth and the present affidavit
indirectly states the same, while placing the burden of solving this important
issue on the heads of the Supreme Court Judges. There seems to be three options
for the Supreme Court. Firstly, it may deliver the verdict in support of the
petitioners and direct the government to scrap the project and declare Rama
Sethu as a NationalHeritageMonument. Secondly, it may direct the Center to
conduct an Archeological Survey and find out whether the Rama Sethu is manmade
or not, while keeping the project in abeyance until then. Thirdly, it may
accept the government's arguments and dismiss the petitions filed against
the Project.
While the petitioners, environmentalists,
Hindu Organizations, Fishermen, right thinking citizens and millions of Hindus
would be delighted at the happening of the first two possibilities cited above,
the third event might prove to be devastating for both the Congress and DMK.
In the event of SC dismissing the petitions and giving a go-ahead to the project,
the entire Nation is bound to erupt like a volcano and it would be too difficult
for the government to face the consequences. The BJP would utilize this God
given opportunity and create another Ayodhya of sorts with the additional
support from environmentalists, security experts, mariners, geologists, archeologists,
true historians and fishermen, which were not there at the time of Ayodhya
episode. Even in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK and BJP, which cater to 25 to 30 percent
of voters, will rally against the project with the support of environmentalists
and fishermen of the southern coast. If the situation turns precarious, which
is a certainty, other parties except the DMK, DK, Communists and VCK, might
change their stand on the issue. The SSCP would turn out to be a nemesis for
DMK. Ultimately, the Rama Sethu issue would end up as another Ayodhya prolonging
for years. The difference is that, while the "Mandhir" could not
be built there, the "Sethu" already exists here!
The legal luminaries are of the opinion that
the Union Government is fighting a weak case and the petitioners are in a
win-win situation. In the meantime, the government has said that it would
abide by the judgment of the Supreme Court, which again is unconvincing &
distrustful, taking into consideration its track record for the last four
years. This Useless Pathetic Alliance at the center has been appeasing the
minorities and antagonizing the majority, since its formation. The best example
lies in the issue of dreaded terrorist Mohammed Afzal Guru, where in, the
SC judgment giving him Capital Punishment is still kept in abeyance by the
government, showing scant regard to the sanctity of the highest judiciary
of the land. Very recently, when the Delhi High Court issued a notice acting
on a PIL filed against the Sachar Committee reports, it ignored the notice
and refrained from filing its reply and finally landed up getting reprimanded
and paying a fine of Rsd.10.000/-.
Also, of late, the trend in the Judiciary
seems to be giving only 'judgments' but not 'justice'. Hence, Navigational
Experts, Security Experts, Archeologists, Geologists, Environmentalists, Literary
Experts, Religious Gurus, Legal Luminaries, Fishermen of Southern Coastal
Tamil Nadu and all right thinking citizens and millions of Hindus have only
one request to the Supreme Court Judges, that is -
Please give us "JUSTICE", and not
"JUDGMENT" and Help save Rama Sethu!
