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Was there any Setu (Bridge) or not? If yes, is that Setu natural or man-made? There are so many questions regarding the existence of the Setu, what saffron leaders call as Ram Setu. BJP, VHP claim that the Setusamudram project, proposed by the government of India, would destroy the mythical ‘Ram Setu’ connecting India to Sri Lanka.
The Sethusamudram Project proposes linking the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka by creating a shipping canal. The logic behind making the canal that it would provide a continuous navigable sea route around the peninsula.
On the other hand, saffron parties such as the BJP and the VHP have opposed the government proposed project with the logic that it would destroy the Ram Setu or Lord Rama’s celebrated path of rocks to ancient Lanka.
Some people, who favored the Sethusamudram project, said that the sand and bars at the bottom of the straits are actually a natural phenomenon. This may not be a man-made structure.
While, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has informed the Supreme Court the story of the existence of any man-made bridge is baseless and not scientifically established anymore. There is no any evidence that the bridge was built by Lord Ram’s monkey army or the events of the Ramayana ever had happened.
The ASI later said that it couldn’t declare Ram Setu as national monument because of no established scientific evidence that might prove the existence of the characters or the events of the Ramayana.
It said that the Ram Setu is not a man made structure but just a natural formation of sand. On the other hand, the BJP blamed the UPA government of blasphemy when the ASI told SC that there was no historical evidence of the existence of Ram Setu.
BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra said:
This is sheer blasphemy. It’s an insult to the Hindu faith. We also wonder why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi have been going for the Dussehra festival if their government does not believe in Lord Ram’s existence.
Today, the government, in its affidavit, says there is no evidence to prove Lord Rama built the bridge or that Lord Ram ever existed. This is an attack on Hindu sentiments, a ferocious one.
The BJP and the VHP have strongly opposed the Sethusamudram project by saying that it would be dangerous for the undersea bridge that was believed to be built by monkey army of Lord Ram.
On Wednesday, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists stooped the daily traffic movement and railways movement across the country. They had some clash with the police at many places.
They protested against the government’s statement made before the court and questioning the existence on the authenticity of the Ramayan events. They had called the blockage for three-hour in many parts of Mumbai, Delhi, north and northwest India just to register their protest against the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project.
BJP Leader ID Swami warned the UPA of dire consequences and said:
This agitation is a warning to the UPA; if the Government doesn’t listen the results will be dangerous. Hindus are opposed to the demolition of Ram Setu. The ’sacred Setu’ should not be touched, as it is associated with sentiments of Hindus.
The Supreme Court has asked the centre to stop all the construction works of dredging in the Ram Setu region to build the canal proposed under the Sethusamudram project till the next date of hearing. The SC has decided to hear the matter on Friday.
Some believed facts about the Ram Setu-
# Ram Setu is a mythical bridge existed southeast of Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu that links India with the Talaimanar coast of Sri Lanka.
# Rs 2087-crore Sethusamudram project would build a canal that would go from the west coast of India to the east coast without circling Sri Lankan territory. Hindu Brigade say that the project would damage the Ram Setu.
# The work on the project has been started since July 2005.
# According to Hindu mythology, Lord Ram’s monkey army had built the Ram Setu to cross over to Sri Lanka to rescue Sita.
# The UPA Government says the Setu is actually a natural built by 30-km-long chain of sand banks.
# The Supreme Court has stopped the government from continuing any construction work in the project till further hearing.
# The Sethusamudram Ship Canal Project would reduce the trip of sea between India and Sri Lanka and would cut costs for freight traffic.
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RSS 
later if u could have studied the veda u would go to the truth.
i think there science was much more superior than us.u say its myth but how could valmiki ramayan has the exact dates of eclipses and tohere things if they were myth.it is proved by the planterium software from United states.
the researcher from the very renowned ASI did not not agree with its department and proved that there r still at least 195 proofs for the story.
if u would have exp[ected for a fighter mig aur passenger plane in the empire of AKBAR u would have been called a fool.but today its a truth.i say that they also had a plane so called pushpak viman which was ”voice driven” something stil to be achieved by our gr8 scince.the scientists have discovered now taht when was the lunar or solar eclipse on any planet including earth with the help of PLANETERIUM software but valmiki wrote it in his epic.after so may years we now say that he was a gr8 astronomer also.
the agency who discovered the bridge says it is man made but our ASI and govt say taht its a joke.actualy blinded by the britshers in our very education..
if u need some thing scientifically proved then reply.i will give u including ram’s existance and the very new big bang theory which is too based on our ”what u call a myth”
First it was Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie that created a sizzle in the religious world, then Da Vinci Code had the Vatican raising eyebrows and nowthe Ramsetu issue has religious heads bewildered. Greg Isles, in his best seller, The Footprints of God points out that God is all powerful. God is all good. Evil exists. You can logically reconcile any of those two statements but not all three.
Religious controversies sell, create a debacle, flare communalism and then fade away. What emerges strongest is ones faith in his belief. In a nation of billions, Lord Ram is a principle deity in every second home. The biggest festival of the year, Diwali, is celebrated to commemorate his victory over Ravana, the evil king of Lanka. The saga is recited over and over again, being passed down from generations. The teachings of the Ramayana form an integral part of our culture to respect ones parents and obey them. The family ties in India are known to be strong. Thus, to raise a question on the existence of God is to provoke antagonism in the minds of those who have been thriving on this belief.
Religion means everything to the people of India. It is a sin to raise question on the existence of Lord Ram. The sin has been committed by the Congress. Ram is everywhere. He dwells in the hearts and souls of his worshippers. It is insane to declare that he did not exist. These people are asking God to prove whether he is there or not. Why would millions of people pray to him if he was incapable of answering back?
Your arguments are based upon the Aryan invasion theory which was created by europeans in order to divide and conquer India. And it seem they have been successful in this context as far as you are concerned. Now here you mention about the North Indian Gods and South India Gods which to me sounds absolutely rubbish.
before you spread your ignorance check out this link.
”http://www.stephen-knapp.com/death_of_the_aryan_invasion_theory.htm”
It says there has never been any aryan Invasion and the whole theory of aryan Invasion was created by european politicians to create inferiority complex in the Indian masses and hence to detach them of their religious belief which was the strongest pilliar of Indian Faith & social structure. Arya is not a race its a terminology used to denote a noble man. There are lot of Links even by India archeologists/historians who confirm the same conclusion but since you believe more in Western Historians and you seem to be a knowledgable western I passed on a link which is written by a western like you my friend.
Now you say there is no truth behind the so called mythology. Let me tell you something even the so called mythological lost city of dwarka has been discovered by the ASI by Dr S R Rao(you can find it on youtube and even an article was written on BBC website). The immediate question is did there exist a Krishna who had sudarshan and all those magical powers and all those story......I dont know.....but they have found a city which has a carbon dataing of 9500 years. which is a fortified city but what I am sure is that that was a man who gave India the wisdom of Bhagvat Gita and which is still an inspiration to likes of APJ Kalam. So did Rama exists....may be may be not but I dont doubt there existed a man so perfect in his character as described in Ramayana.My friend I accept there are defects in the Indian way of thinking an accepting things but that doesnot justify the brutal lie of the west especially British. India is still a mystery and it requires some serious observation to reach to conclusion. Now ASI has said that the so called Rama setu is a natural phenomenon....so do they have a complete explaination of the natural phenomenon. Where is the proof for this natural deposition? What is the explaination for it? Do they have any model which explains this depositions? Just denying mythology is not a scientific way of thinking let both the sides prove themselves and then reach the conclusion. Now the Issue in India is absolutely political....2 extreme opposite sides proving their own point and the fact is being lost in all this dog fight. There should be complete study of this so called mythological bridge. I am absolutely for any construction or project which feed the hungry Indians no questions because I am sure even Rama would have done the same ”If it benefits the majority”. Now the sad part of it is that truth may never come out.
mythologies are made to progate the truth of character of great men. maybe lot of things might have been cooked up but that doesnot defy the magnanimity of the characters like Krishna & the perfection of Rama. from you comments it seem that you understood all the characters from mahabharata but not an inch of Krishna not a peble of Rama and not a drop of Hanuman. And above all you have given all the wrong references. Vedas never talk about Duryodhana & Rama...it in mythology not in vedas. Vedas and mythology are two different scriptures u mixed all the think and presenting according to your way of understanding the fact.
We need to get proof (scientifically and historically proved) from the so-called secular political leaders and politics-affected government officials before offering any prayer to the Gods exist in our religious belief.
We should make something useful and economically viable or a church/mosque in place of Hindu Temples. Some of the political parties are always ready to do something like that because they can do anything to get the power in Indian democracy. I think Congress will do that. I would say just shame on you leaders.
Pratyush, you covered this news better than any other newspaper I gone through. Keep it up.