An SSCP Review Committee has been set up by GOI, as per its commitment given to the Supreme Court of India, in the fallout of blasphemous ASI affidavit. The charter of the committee is to hear from all the people and organizations, that feel they are concerned with the issue, review the entire SSCP issue in that light, and prepare a report to GOI, and via them to the Supreme Court.
The whole effort, in my opinion is an eye wash by UPA, to buy more time, and see the state elections in Guj and Himachal through, without allowing Rama Setu and ASI affidavit to become an election issue.
The above pessimism is confirmed by how the committee is constituted. People they have included and those they have avoided. While I don't know many, but those that I know, are definitely anti-Hindu and leftists. At the same time they have not included anyone known for any knowledge in the background of Setu or SSCP. They have not included any archaelogist - active or retired, they have not included any expert on religios matters, any defence/naval expert, any expert on strategic security or energy, have not included any known economist or industrialist, etc.
(members are requested to share if they have info on these committee members. see news article below)
But anyways, the purpose my creating this post was different.
The commitee has published an advertisement, inviting written petitions from general public and any organization that wants to make any objection to the project, or this alignment of the project, etc.
In this regard, <b>can we explore the possibility of sending a petition from India Forum side?</b> That is if members agree.
<b>I also would urge all the members to send individiual petitions from their own personal side too. More the better. Also please inform each and every person, that you know should be concerned with this, and storm the committee with thousands of thousands of petitions. Let this be no lukewarm response, that they can site in the court as such, translating into general public not being concerned with the issue.</b>
Member opinions?
Viren Ji, Mudy Ji, would you please take lead? I can provide some sample strawman content if needed. See some of the protest letters that some visitors to that blog had written are pasted below.
Here is the news report about it:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sethusamudram project committee meets
Thursday, October 11, 2007
New Delhi, Oct 11 (ANI): The committee of eminent persons constituted by the Centre to look into the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project held its first meeting here today.All the members of the committee were present in today's meeting.The Government has sought three months time from the Supreme Court to examine the Sethusamudram project.The Committee has invited objections and suggestions, including from the writ petitioners in the cases in the Supreme Court, on the project.It will then consider suggestions, proposals and documents after giving them a personal hearing. ...
The ten-member committee constituted to look into the matter is headed by
University of Madras Vice-Chancellor Prof. S. Ramachandran, who is also the Chairman of Monitoring Committee on Environmental Impact Issues.
The committee comprises of
Prof. R S Sharma, former Professor of History at the Delhi University;
Dr. M. Sakthivel, Aqua Culture Foundation of India President ;
Prof. Dilip K. Biswas, former Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board;
Dr. J.R.B. Alfred, former Director of Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata,
Dr. S.R. Wate, Deputy Director of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur,
Prof. P. Jagadeesan, former Vice-Chancellor of the Bharatidasan University,
Tamil Nadu
Prof. Y. Vaikuntham, former Vice-Chancellor of the Kakatiya University, Andhra Pradesh;
Dr. K. Paddayya, Director of the Deccan College, Pune
R K Jain, Managing Director of the Indian Ports Association
The committee held detailed deliberation on the matter today. It has decided to invite objections and suggestions
<span style='color:red'>by 5 p.m. on October 31 </span>
addressed to
<span style='color:red'>
Sethu Samudram Project Review Committee
Dr. Ambedkar Law University,
Post Graduate and Research Development Block,
"Poompozhil",
5, Greenways Road,
Chennai - 600 028.</span>
The committee will give a personal hearing from October 29 to November 6 (on all days including holidays).The period from November 4-6 has been kept for giving personal hearing to the petitioners.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
some petitions and letters, visitors of ramasetu blog wrote are repreoduced here:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->To:
Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji,
Honorable Prime Minister of Bharat
Dear Dr. Singh,
As a citizen of Bharat, and a Hindu, I write this e-mail, in hopes that you would pay some consideration to this appeal.
Rama Setu (or Adam's Bridge as your honorable cabinet colleagues prefer to call it) is a very significant matter of faith and religious belief for millions of Hindus. Indeed, Sri Rama Setu is as significant as Mount Kailasha, spiritually.
I understand that Ministry of Shiping and Road Transport is fiercely spearheading Sethusamudram project, with a design that dredges and damages the Setu. I have also seen news reports and gone through the records of the honorable Parliament to verify that various cabinet colleagues of yours (Mr. T R Baalu, Ms. Ambika Soni, and Mr. Kapil Sibal) have repeatedly assaulted this religious belief of Hindus by claiming that, 'there is no Rama Setu. Those who say there is, prove it scientifically'.
This line taken by your colleagues is the most preposterous stand possible. It is similar to saying:
"Before revering Kabaa, first prove scientifically that Kaba is really that place where God appeared before Abraham / Moses." OR "Before believing in the divinity of Jesus Christ, it must be first proved archaeologcally that he existed, was born of the virgin mother, was crucified and then resurrected"
All of the above are plain absurd. Kaaba IS a holy site, whether the historicity can be proved or not. Jesus Christ IS to be worshipped, irrespective of his historicity.
Likewise Setu is a respected and revered site of Hindus, period.
This stand that your government is unfortunately taking is simply absurd, because the question here is not whether the bridge is man-made or nature-made, or investigating the proofs of Rama Setu. Simple fact is that the people in tradition over ages have been and are revering Setu, which makes it a holy site for them - man made or natural.
Therefore, Dr. Singh Ji,
I earnestly appeal to your conscience, to:
1. Kindly restrain your colleagues from bashing the Hindus' faith
2. Kindly Stop dredging the Setu area
3. Please amicably find a solution which all would agree to.
Jay Hind!
Thank you,
XXX
USA
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sridharan Hariharan (sridharan.x.hariharan@..) wrote:
To: President Of India
Respected Sir,
I do appreciate your broad mindlessness when you proudly ask every youth of India to read Bhagavad Gita as the teachings of Gita is Universal. Similarly, I pray now to you to intervene and show mercy on the inanimate stone structure that keeps strengthening the faith of every Hindu or Non-Hindu who believe in the History of Rama. You have the highest authority to bring a man back from the noose of Yama and forgive the sinful acts of that culprits; Why not extend the same mercy to the age old man made structure that lies deep in the sea very close to Rameshwaram and Ramanathapuram.
I have faith in Lord Rama and the Almighty God.
Please help everyone to follow the message - HELP EVER; HURT NEVER.
Thanks,
Sridharan Hariharan
Houston, TX, USA
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Raksha Aggarwal (raksha.aggarwal@..) wrote:
it is with disgust i write and protest at the proposed construction of the channel. the alternate paths given can be considered.
raksha aggarwal-- kenya
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->V. Manikandan Mani (vmanis78@..) wrote:
Sir / Madam,
RAM SETU , belived to be built by LORD SHRI RAMA 17 Lac 25 thousand years ago.
Without any evidence all these 17 lac 25 thousand years we believe that there is a bridge built by Shri Rama to Save Sita from Ravana,King of Lanka.
Today we have got a SOLID PROOF that " A BRIDGE EXIST BETWEEN DHANUSKODI TO SRILANKA" by looking at the SATELITE PHOTOGRAPH released by NASA.
" Those who are trying to break the bridge , not only tries to break the bridge but 17 lac 25 thousand year old belief also "
17 LAC 25 THOUSAND YEAR BELIEF HAS GOT ITS OWN POWER. STILL THIS BELIEF CONTINUES ........
Don't try to destroy the evidence.
At this point of time, the Goverment should investigate more about this bridge and the historical values , rather breaking RAM SETU.
SATYAMEVA JAYATE
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sunil Patel (suntel@...) wrote:
To,
The Prime Minister of India
Sub : DISMANTLING RAM SETU IS HITLARY DECISION IN INDEPENDENT INDIA.
Most respected Sir,
In reference to the subject, I would like to request you that Ram Setu should not be dismantled.
I am very surprised to hear that Govt. has planned to destroy the Ram Setu. I have read the Chennai Govt. Tamilnadu government gazette that when Rama returned from Lanka he himself destroyed the bridge by shooting it with an arrow".
From last 50 to 100 years back only we have technology to build this types of long huge bridges across the countries. 100 years of before it is not possible. Tajmahal, Piramids etc can be prepared but a bridge from one country to another on sea was impossible mission for humans.
When I believe in Hinduism, I am also believe that only in the period of Ram "Satyoug" construction of bridge can be possible.
If Govt. dont agree the "adams bridge" to be "Ram Setu", than also it can be preserved as an antique, rare historical monument on which India Heritage, culture can be proud.
Dismantling Ramsatu stating that it is not Ram Setu is a ANTI HINDUISM ACT. I strongly condemn it.
I have full hope that you will stop this type of proposal and did not hurt the feelings of crores of Indians.
With respectful regards,
Sunil Patel
http://ramasetu.blogspot.com/2007/03/protest.html
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The whole effort, in my opinion is an eye wash by UPA, to buy more time, and see the state elections in Guj and Himachal through, without allowing Rama Setu and ASI affidavit to become an election issue.
The above pessimism is confirmed by how the committee is constituted. People they have included and those they have avoided. While I don't know many, but those that I know, are definitely anti-Hindu and leftists. At the same time they have not included anyone known for any knowledge in the background of Setu or SSCP. They have not included any archaelogist - active or retired, they have not included any expert on religios matters, any defence/naval expert, any expert on strategic security or energy, have not included any known economist or industrialist, etc.
(members are requested to share if they have info on these committee members. see news article below)
But anyways, the purpose my creating this post was different.
The commitee has published an advertisement, inviting written petitions from general public and any organization that wants to make any objection to the project, or this alignment of the project, etc.
In this regard, <b>can we explore the possibility of sending a petition from India Forum side?</b> That is if members agree.
<b>I also would urge all the members to send individiual petitions from their own personal side too. More the better. Also please inform each and every person, that you know should be concerned with this, and storm the committee with thousands of thousands of petitions. Let this be no lukewarm response, that they can site in the court as such, translating into general public not being concerned with the issue.</b>
Member opinions?
Viren Ji, Mudy Ji, would you please take lead? I can provide some sample strawman content if needed. See some of the protest letters that some visitors to that blog had written are pasted below.
Here is the news report about it:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sethusamudram project committee meets
Thursday, October 11, 2007
New Delhi, Oct 11 (ANI): The committee of eminent persons constituted by the Centre to look into the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project held its first meeting here today.All the members of the committee were present in today's meeting.The Government has sought three months time from the Supreme Court to examine the Sethusamudram project.The Committee has invited objections and suggestions, including from the writ petitioners in the cases in the Supreme Court, on the project.It will then consider suggestions, proposals and documents after giving them a personal hearing. ...
The ten-member committee constituted to look into the matter is headed by
University of Madras Vice-Chancellor Prof. S. Ramachandran, who is also the Chairman of Monitoring Committee on Environmental Impact Issues.
The committee comprises of
Prof. R S Sharma, former Professor of History at the Delhi University;
Dr. M. Sakthivel, Aqua Culture Foundation of India President ;
Prof. Dilip K. Biswas, former Chairman of the Central Pollution Control Board;
Dr. J.R.B. Alfred, former Director of Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata,
Dr. S.R. Wate, Deputy Director of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur,
Prof. P. Jagadeesan, former Vice-Chancellor of the Bharatidasan University,
Tamil Nadu
Prof. Y. Vaikuntham, former Vice-Chancellor of the Kakatiya University, Andhra Pradesh;
Dr. K. Paddayya, Director of the Deccan College, Pune
R K Jain, Managing Director of the Indian Ports Association
The committee held detailed deliberation on the matter today. It has decided to invite objections and suggestions
<span style='color:red'>by 5 p.m. on October 31 </span>
addressed to
<span style='color:red'>
Sethu Samudram Project Review Committee
Dr. Ambedkar Law University,
Post Graduate and Research Development Block,
"Poompozhil",
5, Greenways Road,
Chennai - 600 028.</span>
The committee will give a personal hearing from October 29 to November 6 (on all days including holidays).The period from November 4-6 has been kept for giving personal hearing to the petitioners.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
some petitions and letters, visitors of ramasetu blog wrote are repreoduced here:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->To:
Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji,
Honorable Prime Minister of Bharat
Dear Dr. Singh,
As a citizen of Bharat, and a Hindu, I write this e-mail, in hopes that you would pay some consideration to this appeal.
Rama Setu (or Adam's Bridge as your honorable cabinet colleagues prefer to call it) is a very significant matter of faith and religious belief for millions of Hindus. Indeed, Sri Rama Setu is as significant as Mount Kailasha, spiritually.
I understand that Ministry of Shiping and Road Transport is fiercely spearheading Sethusamudram project, with a design that dredges and damages the Setu. I have also seen news reports and gone through the records of the honorable Parliament to verify that various cabinet colleagues of yours (Mr. T R Baalu, Ms. Ambika Soni, and Mr. Kapil Sibal) have repeatedly assaulted this religious belief of Hindus by claiming that, 'there is no Rama Setu. Those who say there is, prove it scientifically'.
This line taken by your colleagues is the most preposterous stand possible. It is similar to saying:
"Before revering Kabaa, first prove scientifically that Kaba is really that place where God appeared before Abraham / Moses." OR "Before believing in the divinity of Jesus Christ, it must be first proved archaeologcally that he existed, was born of the virgin mother, was crucified and then resurrected"
All of the above are plain absurd. Kaaba IS a holy site, whether the historicity can be proved or not. Jesus Christ IS to be worshipped, irrespective of his historicity.
Likewise Setu is a respected and revered site of Hindus, period.
This stand that your government is unfortunately taking is simply absurd, because the question here is not whether the bridge is man-made or nature-made, or investigating the proofs of Rama Setu. Simple fact is that the people in tradition over ages have been and are revering Setu, which makes it a holy site for them - man made or natural.
Therefore, Dr. Singh Ji,
I earnestly appeal to your conscience, to:
1. Kindly restrain your colleagues from bashing the Hindus' faith
2. Kindly Stop dredging the Setu area
3. Please amicably find a solution which all would agree to.
Jay Hind!
Thank you,
XXX
USA
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sridharan Hariharan (sridharan.x.hariharan@..) wrote:
To: President Of India
Respected Sir,
I do appreciate your broad mindlessness when you proudly ask every youth of India to read Bhagavad Gita as the teachings of Gita is Universal. Similarly, I pray now to you to intervene and show mercy on the inanimate stone structure that keeps strengthening the faith of every Hindu or Non-Hindu who believe in the History of Rama. You have the highest authority to bring a man back from the noose of Yama and forgive the sinful acts of that culprits; Why not extend the same mercy to the age old man made structure that lies deep in the sea very close to Rameshwaram and Ramanathapuram.
I have faith in Lord Rama and the Almighty God.
Please help everyone to follow the message - HELP EVER; HURT NEVER.
Thanks,
Sridharan Hariharan
Houston, TX, USA
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Raksha Aggarwal (raksha.aggarwal@..) wrote:
it is with disgust i write and protest at the proposed construction of the channel. the alternate paths given can be considered.
raksha aggarwal-- kenya
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->V. Manikandan Mani (vmanis78@..) wrote:
Sir / Madam,
RAM SETU , belived to be built by LORD SHRI RAMA 17 Lac 25 thousand years ago.
Without any evidence all these 17 lac 25 thousand years we believe that there is a bridge built by Shri Rama to Save Sita from Ravana,King of Lanka.
Today we have got a SOLID PROOF that " A BRIDGE EXIST BETWEEN DHANUSKODI TO SRILANKA" by looking at the SATELITE PHOTOGRAPH released by NASA.
" Those who are trying to break the bridge , not only tries to break the bridge but 17 lac 25 thousand year old belief also "
17 LAC 25 THOUSAND YEAR BELIEF HAS GOT ITS OWN POWER. STILL THIS BELIEF CONTINUES ........
Don't try to destroy the evidence.
At this point of time, the Goverment should investigate more about this bridge and the historical values , rather breaking RAM SETU.
SATYAMEVA JAYATE
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Sunil Patel (suntel@...) wrote:
To,
The Prime Minister of India
Sub : DISMANTLING RAM SETU IS HITLARY DECISION IN INDEPENDENT INDIA.
Most respected Sir,
In reference to the subject, I would like to request you that Ram Setu should not be dismantled.
I am very surprised to hear that Govt. has planned to destroy the Ram Setu. I have read the Chennai Govt. Tamilnadu government gazette that when Rama returned from Lanka he himself destroyed the bridge by shooting it with an arrow".
From last 50 to 100 years back only we have technology to build this types of long huge bridges across the countries. 100 years of before it is not possible. Tajmahal, Piramids etc can be prepared but a bridge from one country to another on sea was impossible mission for humans.
When I believe in Hinduism, I am also believe that only in the period of Ram "Satyoug" construction of bridge can be possible.
If Govt. dont agree the "adams bridge" to be "Ram Setu", than also it can be preserved as an antique, rare historical monument on which India Heritage, culture can be proud.
Dismantling Ramsatu stating that it is not Ram Setu is a ANTI HINDUISM ACT. I strongly condemn it.
I have full hope that you will stop this type of proposal and did not hurt the feelings of crores of Indians.
With respectful regards,
Sunil Patel
http://ramasetu.blogspot.com/2007/03/protest.html
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->