Author: PTI
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: October 15, 2008
URL: http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/oct/15sethu.htm
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday accused
the United Progressive Alliance government of attempting to abuse and hurt
Hindu sentiments by stating in the Supreme Court that there was no proof of
Ram Sethu being a place of worship.
"By stating before the Supreme Court
that there is no proof that Ram Sethu is a place of worship or that it is
an integral part of Hindu religion, the UPA has once again tried to abuse
and hurt Hindu sentiments," party spokesperson Ravi Shanker Prasad told
reporters in Delhi.
Prasad said the government had no right to
define what forms an integral part of Hindu religion. "The government
has taken upon itself the role to decide as to what is and what is not an
integral part of Hindu religion. Who has given this authority to the UPA government?"
Prasad asked.
Terming the language used in the affidavit
"derogatory and designed to hurt Hindu sentiments", Prasad said
the government would never use such language against a symbol of reverence
of any other religion.
He demanded that the UPA should explain the
basis of its contention made in the affidavit on Ram Sethu.
"The UPA's stand on the issue is highly
condemnable. What is the historical, philosophical, cultural and spiritual
basis for this stand?" Prasad asked.
"The saga of Lord Ram has been a part
of Hindu psyche for thousands of years and Ram Sethu is a part of that,"
he added.
Accusing the UPA government of doublespeak
on the issue, Prasad said that earlier the government had questioned the existence
of Lord Ram, then contended that Lord Ram himself had destroyed the Ram Sethu
while returning from Sri Lanka.
"There is a concerted, consistent and
deliberate attempt to hurt Hindu sentiments on this issue," the saffron
party spokesperson alleged.
