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Affidavit not an inadvertent mistake, says BJP leader

NEW DELHI: The now withdrawn affidavit of the Union government on “Ramar Sethu,” earlier submitted to the Supreme Court, was not the result of an inadvertent mistake, but was a “deliberate and conscious” act. For this, both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi must apologise, the Bharatiya Janata Party said here on Monday.

Party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad hinted that failure to apologise could lead to “hundreds” of cases being filed against the government’s top leaders for, the government had committed an offence under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code by hurting Hindu sentiments through its affidavit questioning the historicity of the Ramayana.

“The government’s affidavit was a team effort in which several Ministries and the Law Officer would have been involved. It cannot be an inadvertent mistake,” Mr. Prasad said.

He pointed to the “competitive blame game” within the government, with one Minister, Jairam Ramesh, pointing an accusing finger at another, Ambika Soni, and demanding her resignation.

While blaming the Congress’ “pseudo secular attitudes” that led to such an affidavit being filed, the BJP wondered whether the government would have dared to make a similar “mistake” about the religious beliefs of the minorities — Christians, Muslims or Sikhs.

Party leaders hinted that the BJP would keep the “Ramar Sethu” issue alive as it would be used by it as a focal point for several other issues, including implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations. Once again the party would like to drum up its own support by raising the slogan of “pseudo secularism” against the UPA.

Special Correspondent reports:

Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu on Monday said the government would soon approach the Supreme Court and obtain appropriate orders to continue working on the Sethusamudram shipping channel project.

In a statement here, Mr. Baalu said: “Pursuant to the orders passed by the Supreme Court on August 31 and September 14, the work in Adam’s Bridge (Ramar Sethu) portion of the project has only been stopped. The government would soon approach the Supreme Court and obtain appropriate orders to continue working in this region also and is confident of completing the project at the earliest.”

The 140-year-old dream project, of which the construction work was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on July 2, 2005, has been under implementation since then, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP said.

Mr. Baalu also referred to a judgment of the Supreme Court delivered in the Narmada Bachao Andolan vs. Union of India case relating to the implementation of mega development projects.

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