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Manmohan should apologise: Togadia

KOCHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should apologise to the nation for the “wrong” statements in the affidavit filed before the court regarding the Ramar Sethu, said Vishwa Hindu Parishad general secretary Praveen Togadia.

Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, Mr. Togadia said that the government was making the officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) scapegoats in the issue.

The Union Cabinet had collective responsibility in matters of governance. So the issue would not end with the resignation of a Minister. Instead, the Prime Minister should apologise to the nation as he headed the government, Mr. Togadia said.

The government should cancel the Sethusamudram project or explore alternative routes for the project leaving the Ramar Sethu untouched. The project, in its proposed form, would affect the lives of over four lakh fishermen and the rich thorium deposits in the area would be lost.

Mr. Togadia said that two regional parties that were constituents of the United Progressive Alliance had pledged their support for the agitation. CPI leader A.B. Bardhan and Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had said the sentiments of the Hindus should be respected, he said.

Reacting to the reported statement of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi that Ramar Sethu did not exist, Mr. Togadia said that Mr. Karunanidhi had issued a gazette notification in 1982 stating that Ramar Sethu did exist. If he was retracting his statement, he could be prosecuted for making a false affidavit, Mr. Togadia said.

Palakkad Staff Reporter writes:

BJP general secretary Vinay Katiyar, MP, has said that the party would launch an all-India agitation to save the Ramar Sethu. Talking to mediapersons here on Sunday, the BJP leader demanded that the Centre apologise for its stand on the issue.

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