The Hindu : National : Give up Sethu project, says Togadia

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Give up Sethu project, says Togadia

Special Correspondent

VADODARA: Vishwa Hindu Parishad international general secretary Pravin Togadia has warned of a nation-wide popular agitation if the Centre went ahead with the Sethu Samudram Ship Canal Project.

Talking to journalists at the conclusion of the two-day conference of the Seva Sangam organised by the VHP at Sokhda village near Vadodara on Sunday, Dr. Togadia said the VHP’s huge rally in Delhi on December 30 and its “chakka jam” programme on the Sethu Samudram issue might have given the government an idea about the popular sentiments against tampering with the Ram Sethu. VHP national president Ashok Singhal also attended the deliberations.

Pointing out that lakhs of people attended the Delhi rally and participated in the “chakka jam,” Dr. Togadia said the government should give up any idea of going ahead with the ship canal project. Asked about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi’s insistence on going ahead with the project, he said: “The VHP will not tolerate any attempt to play with Lord Ram.”

‘No rift with Modi’

Asked about his differences with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the changed situation after he returned to power with a fresh mandate, Dr. Togadia said he never had any “personal differences” with Mr. Modi.

Dr. Togadia expressed regrets at the recent happenings in Maharashtra in the aftermath of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Raj Thackeray’s tirade against the north Indians.

Supporting the sentiments of the Rajputs against some of the scenes in the Hindi film Jodha Akbar, Dr. Togadia said the VHP workers would not allow screening of the film across the country until the scenes hurting the sentiments of the Rajputs were deleted.

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