TIRUPATI: The Chittoor district Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) leaders on Monday held a dharna at the Municipal junction here protesting against the Government of India's move to go ahead with the controversial `Sethu Samudram' project.

They said it would eventually result in the demolition of the mythological and ancient underwater bridge believed to have been constructed during the Ramayana period between Dhanushkodi and Sri Lanka.

Display NASA pictures

The activists displayed pictures of the 35 km-long and 3 km wide `undersea Rama Varadhi' reportedly taken by satellites belonging to the NASA during the protest.

They wanted the Central Government to immediately drop its Sethu Samudram project plan, which would end up in the destruction of the mythological bridge hurting the religious sentiments of millions of devotees of Lord Rama.

Preserving heritage

They also sought to remind the Central Government of its duty and responsibility to protect and preserve heritage structures and said the move to tamper was nothing but an international conspiracy to whip up the Indian sentiments.

Postcard campaign

The activists led by district Bharatiya Janata Party president Narayanaswamy Naidu, State Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president G. Bhanuprakash Reddy, town party president, Samanchi Srinivas and others also distributed to the public postcards. The postcards were addressed to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Union Minister for Shipping as part of their campaign against the demolition move.

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