BJP to declare Ramsetu 'heritage monument' if it comes to power

22 Mar 2009, 1516 hrs IST, PTI

 

CHENNAI: BJP will declare the Ramasetu "a heritage monument," if the alliance led by the party would be voted to power at the Centre in the Lok Sabha polls, party's state unit said on Sunday.

BJP state unit president L Ganesan, in a statement here, alleged that if the alliance comprising the DMK came to power, "it will try to demolish" the Ramsetu.

The bridge, believed to have been constructed by Lord Ram, became a centre of controversy after Hindus opposed its demolition for the construction of Rs 2,400 crore Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP).

While crediting former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee for issuing in-principle approval and taking up study for the implementation of the project, Ganesan claimed the plan was "altered" after the UPA Government took over.

"The DMK has assumed the matter as its policy failure and is adamant (in the implementation)," he said at an apparent reference to DMK president M Karunanidhi asking his party workers to inform people on the "roadblocks" created for the project.

"If another alliance comprising of the DMK comes to power, it will try to demolish the Ramsetu. But if a BJP-led combine is voted to power, the bridge will be declared a heritage monument of historical importance," he said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-4300167,prtpage-1.cms