05-01-2007, 10:37 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><span style='color:red'>Baalu studies records on Ramar Setu</span>
Tuesday May 1 2007 03:39 IST
THANJAVUR: In what is considered a significant development in the Ramar Setu controversy, Union Minister for Shipping and Surface Transport TR Baalu visited the historic Saraswathi Mahal Library here on Monday, and scrutinised the records that included books and drawings pertaining to the epic Ramayana.
The visit is all the more crucial at a time when work on the construction of a shipping canal under the Sethusamudram project is in progress and certain organisations, including the BJP and VHP, have raised objections to the digging operations to the detriment of Ramar Setu at Rameswaram.
Baalu, who was on a twoday visit to Tamil Nadu to participate in the celebrations of a college at Punalkulam in Pudukkottai district, visited the library and studied the records in connection with the bridge.
Speaking to journalists, Baalu said that there is no such bridge under the sea and the pictures by NASA, supporting the existence of the bridge, are also incorrect.
On a question whether he intended to destroy the evidence on the issue, Baalu said, "Can anyone even destroy the collections housed in this thousand year old library? I have come here in search of evidence for a piece of news."
When asked whether he chanced upon any evidence from the ancient library, Baalu said, "I will make an announcement in the Parliament on May 23. Any announcement now may become an advantage to the opponents."
It is said the Minister collected the copies from the Valmiki Ramayana, Maanasa Ramayana, Adhyathma Ramayana, Kamba Ramayana, Thulsidas Ramayana and other sources.
Administrative Officer Sami Sivagnanam, Curator Perumal, Sanskrit scholar Veeraraghavan and others were also present on the occasion.
http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE...il+Nadu&Topic=0
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Tuesday May 1 2007 03:39 IST
THANJAVUR: In what is considered a significant development in the Ramar Setu controversy, Union Minister for Shipping and Surface Transport TR Baalu visited the historic Saraswathi Mahal Library here on Monday, and scrutinised the records that included books and drawings pertaining to the epic Ramayana.
The visit is all the more crucial at a time when work on the construction of a shipping canal under the Sethusamudram project is in progress and certain organisations, including the BJP and VHP, have raised objections to the digging operations to the detriment of Ramar Setu at Rameswaram.
Baalu, who was on a twoday visit to Tamil Nadu to participate in the celebrations of a college at Punalkulam in Pudukkottai district, visited the library and studied the records in connection with the bridge.
Speaking to journalists, Baalu said that there is no such bridge under the sea and the pictures by NASA, supporting the existence of the bridge, are also incorrect.
On a question whether he intended to destroy the evidence on the issue, Baalu said, "Can anyone even destroy the collections housed in this thousand year old library? I have come here in search of evidence for a piece of news."
When asked whether he chanced upon any evidence from the ancient library, Baalu said, "I will make an announcement in the Parliament on May 23. Any announcement now may become an advantage to the opponents."
It is said the Minister collected the copies from the Valmiki Ramayana, Maanasa Ramayana, Adhyathma Ramayana, Kamba Ramayana, Thulsidas Ramayana and other sources.
Administrative Officer Sami Sivagnanam, Curator Perumal, Sanskrit scholar Veeraraghavan and others were also present on the occasion.
http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE...il+Nadu&Topic=0
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