Muslim Congress leaders and President of Croatia oppose Setu channel through Rama Setu

Statement of Dr. Subramanian Swamy, made in Chennai on 16 March 2008:

[quote] Setusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP) has suffered a further blow with Muslim MPs of the Congress Party expressing reservations about the wisdom of a project that cuts a channel through Rama Setu. Leaders of the party such as Ahmed Patel and Mohsina Kidwai have told their top party leaders that breaking the Rama Setu would ‘empower the Hindutva brigade’ in the future to go on a rampage and justify a future demolition of mosques in the name of economic development. Hence, they have urged that the project be dropped altogether rather than court any controversy. In Kashmir, the Hurriyat Chief Mirwaiz Omar has also condemned the proposal under the SSCP to demolish the Setu. [unquote]

Muslims of Varanasi offered prayers on Dec. 13, 2007 to protect Ram Setu (See Press report attached).

Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Jan. 29, 2008 supports efforts to protect Ram Setu in a letter to Swami Maheshwarananda ji. (See text of letter attached).

Kalyanaraman

Hindus, Muslims join hands against Setu channel project

Hindus, Muslims join hands against Sethusamudram Project

December 13th, 2007 – 6:58 pm ICT by admin –

Varanasi, Dec 13 (ANI): People belonging to the Hindu and the Muslim communities offered prayers here for protection of the Ram Setu.

They said that the mythological bridge was under threat by the Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project.

While radical Hindu groups have been spearheading the agitation, prayer meeting, though attended by a handful of volunteers, was the first time Muslims rallied against the project.

“We believe that our revered Paigambar (Prophet Mohammed) went to Sri Lanka through the Ram Sethu. There is also a mausoleum dedicated to him in Sri Lanka. Both Hindus and Muslims should work together to save it (Ram Setu),” said Mohammed Shamim Ahmed, a resident.

Hindu groups have been opposing the project, saying it would destroy the ‘holy’ Ram Sethu, a 48-kilometre chain of limestone shoals that once linked Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to Mannar in Sri Lanka.

According to the Central Government, research has shown that the Ram Setu was a series of sand shoals created by sedimentation, but according to Hindus the narrow link, also known as Adam’s Bridge, was built by Lord Rama.

The project has also sparked protests by other groups including conservationists and local fishermen who say the dredging will mean dumping sediment in deeper water further out to sea.

The 560-million dollar project will dredge a channel in a narrow strip of sea between India and Sri Lanka, reducing distances and cutting costs for freight traffic.

India plans to go ahead with the project in seas off its southern coast despite protests by various groups.

Dredging for the project began in 2005 and the channel — 12 metres deep, 300 metres wide and almost 90 km long — will provide a crucial link between the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar.

When the project is finished, ships sailing between India’s western and eastern coasts will no longer have to go around the south of Sri Lanka, and are expected to save up to 36 hours of sailing time. (ANI)

http://tinyurl.com/33tv83

The Text of the letter of Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, released by Ram Setu Raksha Manch is as following:

Jan. 29th, 2008

“His Holiness paramhans Swami Swami Maheshwarananda

“Your Holiness honored Swamiji,

Thank you for the book of the holy epic poem Ramayan which you gave to me during our meeting.

“My attention was especially drawn to the chapter about the bridge between India and Sri Lanka, the bridge which is hidden in the depths of the sea. Although invisible in our eyes (But not to NASA satellites) the bridge is a part of world and human heritage and this is why public awareness needs to be raised about the significance and establish it on a global level. The Republic of Croatia is also fighting to protect the under water heritage because in doing so, we are preserving our roots. The bridge is a witness of Ramayana. The story about good and evil, a universal story, but also an individual story, about the struggle of a hero, an interesting reading material. It makes me think about myself, about my roles of statesman who could help you with your efforts.

“I therefore support the proposal that Ram setu should be protected from devastation and put on the UNESCO world heritage list.

“I will use this opportunity to thank you once again for vising Zagreh and for the seminars and devoted efforts to spread peace, tolerance, understanding and conscience about the preservation of planet Earth,

“Sincerely,

The President of the Republic of Croatia, Stjepan Mesic”.

Croatia is a candidate for membership of the European Union and is expecting NATO membership invitation in April 2008. On October 17, 2007 Croatia became a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-2009 term.