Rama Setu -1

[Guest]

Supreme Court's observations reported as S. Veerabadran Chettiar v. E. V. Ramaswami Naicker and others (AIR 1958 Supreme Court 1032):

".... Any object <b>however trivial or destitute of real value in itself</b> if regarded as sacred by any class of persons would come within the meaning of the penal section (295 of Indian Penal Code). Nor is it absolutely necessary that the object, in order to be held sacred, should have been actually worshipped. An object may be held sacred by a class of persons without being worshipped by them. It is clear, therefore, that the courts below were rather cynical in so lightly brushing aside the religious susceptibilities of that class of persons to which the complainant claims to belong. The section has been intended to respect the religious susceptibilities of persons of different religious persuasions or creeds. Courts have got to be very circumspect in such matters, and to pay due regard to the feelings and religious emotions of different classes of persons with different beliefs, <b>irrespective of the consideration whether or not they share those beliefs, or whether they are rational or otherwise, in the opinion of the court."</b>

http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070606/0606306.htm

[Guest]

<span style='color:red'>kritam may dakhshine haste, jayo may savyaahitah</span>
"Effort is in my right hand, and victory in my left"
Atharva Veda (7.52.8)

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><span style='color:red'>Sonia's anti-Hindu perfidy & Baalu's Dravidian falsehood </span>
V SUNDARAM

        There is an unholy and dynastic political marriage between the anti-Hindu perfidy of Sonia Gandhi and the Dravidian falsehood of T R Baalu. More than 800 millions of Hindus in majority in India and several millions of Hindus outside India in different parts of the world heaved a sigh of relief when the VHP, the RSS and other sister Hindu organisations, acting together under the auspices of SHRI RAM SETHU RAKSHA MANCH, DELHI, organized a massive rally on Ram Lila grounds in New Delhi on 27 May, 2007 to protest against the decision of the Islam-embracing, Christianity-caressing and Hindu-hating UPA Government in New Delhi to destroy for ever the sacred Ram Setu Bridge in Rameshwaram which has held the hearts of Hindus captive for trackless centuries. Every self respecting Hindu in India knows today that the dastardly politically criminal plot to blow up the Ram Setu Bridge in order to destroy the soul of India and to demoralize the Hindus of India by making them refugees in their own native land, was taken by the treacherous trio consisting of a non-Hindu called Sonia Gandhi and two known Anti-Hindus belonging to the Periyar anti-Hindu perfidy tradition called T R Baalu and Karunanidhi. For this tricky trio the political survival of the rickety, shaky and shakeable UPA's collusive Coalition in New Delhi is more sacred than the soul of Barath Mata.

        Addressing the massive rally, VHP president Ashok Singhal, thundered like Winston Churchill against Nazi tyranny during the dark days of II World War, when he said: "We give an ultimatum to the UPA Government to stop the planned destruction of Ram Setu in Rameshwaram forthwith. The Hindu Saints, Sages and Seers of India have set 22 July, 2007 as the deadline for the Government of India to honourably withdraw from the path of Pseudo Secular Anti-Hindu destruction of Ram Setu, failing which an unprecedented, uncontrollable and unimaginable national agitation, will be launched not only to protect the sacred Ram Setu but also to heroically defend the timeless honour, self respect and dignity of the Hindus of India. There will be a DHARMA SANSAD in Delhi on 22 July, 2007 in which the saints from all parts of the country are expected to participate. The democratic battle cry of all the Hindus today who are firmly committed to the deathless cause of the eternally sacred Ram Setu Bridge can be summed up in these words: unflinching, unswerving, inflexible, indomitable and irrepressible-into broader lands and better days, freed from the draconian anti- Hindu tyranny and dictatorship of the Sonia-directed UPA Government in New Delhi."

Explaining the conspiracy behind the demolition of Ram Setu, Ashok Singhal said that the people of Europe do not want to recognize the history and culture of Bharat and all of them want to destroy it. That is why they refer to Shri Ram and Shri Krishna as mythological characters. The British in the days of the RAJ treated them as mythological figures and not as historical heroes. And now Sonia Gandhi, with her supreme contempt for Hinduism and all things Hindu, also holds the same colonial and European view. All of them do not recognize the period of Indian history prior to the Buddhist era. They feel that if the history of RAM SETU is accepted, then the historicity of Shri Ram will get proved and established. That is why Gandhi went to inaugurate the SSCP in Madurai on July 2, 2005, keeping in mind her avowed mission of destruction of RAM SETU by hook or by crook through the good offices of T R Baalu and Karunanidhi.. He asked the question: "Why should the Government of India be bent upon spending Rs 2400 crore in a wasteful manner on the SSCP by dredging the Ram Sethu in Rameshwaram? If it adopts the alternate route by digging a canal in the barren land, the project will cost only Rs 1200 crore. Thus there will be a massive saving of Rs.1,200 crore in which the faithless and irresponsible Shipping and Transport Minister is not interested at all."

        While addressing the massive Hindu rally in New Delhi on 27 May 2007, Ashok Singhal rose to great heights by mobilizing the glorious Hindi Language and sending it into battle to save the precious Ram Setu Bridge. The vast concourse of people participating in the rally responded in raucously enthusiastic affirmation to this clarion call of Shri Singhal by loudly shouting the slogan of 'JAI SHRI RAM' and 'JAI SHRI RAM'. According to some of my friends from the Civil Service who were present at the rally, the boisterously violent anti-UPA Hindu mood of thousands of people, was very much reminiscent of the hectic days of the storming of Bastille in Paris in France on 14 July,1789. I am delighted to hear from them that the popular mood of the Hindus at that rally was very much akin in spirit ( if not in letter) to the explosive public mood of the suppressed and oppressed French people during the days of the French Revolution in 1789 and the Russian people during the days of the Russian Revolution in 1917.

        VHP general secretary Dr Praveen Togadia declared: "If it were Mohammed Ali Sethu, instead of Ram Setu, the Manmohan Singh Government taking hourly instructions from Sonia Gandhi, would not have dared to touch it. Besides preserving it, the Government would also have declared a special subsidy for the devout Muslims to visit it,  <!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> drawing inspiration from the politically spiritual message of the disgraceful Justice Sachar Commission. The Government of India is working round the clock to destroy the identity and culture of the Hindus. Ram Sethu is a Punya Teerth for all of us and we will not allow anyone to destroy it at any cost. The Governments of Egypt and China are spending crores of rupees to preserve their ancient sites but our anti-Hindu Government is spending cores and crores of rupees to destroy our ancient sites, which are internationally important."

        Speaking at the massive rally, senior BJP leader and former Human Resource Development Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi gave a detailed account of his visit to the site at Rameshwaram and also the indisputable scientific facts about the Ram Setu. He said those who claim that it is not Ram Sethu are the biggest liars.

        Janata Party president Dr Subramanian Swamy called upon the people to be ready for a bigger battle. He said: "The main battle today is between 'OM' and 'ROME'. 'OM' (Hindus of India) would defeat 'ROME' (Soni Gandhi)." Greatly moved by the inspiring and incandescent words of Dr Subramanian Swami, massive crowds attending the rally went into a state of ecstatic frenzy when he declared in Hindi:

        "Aane waala sangharash hoga Om aur Rome ke beech. Jeetega Om. Naash kerenge Rome bhakti. Vijaysri hogi Om shakti" (The imminent bloody battle is between OM and ROME. We will destroy ROME BHAKTHI! Hail victory for OM BHAKTHI !!)

        All the Hindus of India are very happy that Dr Subramanian Swami has issued a clarificatory and self-explanatory, indeed a historic statement, yesterday to the effect that the Government of India are abandoning their plans to breach RAMA SETU. The following facts are seemingly coming to public view following his statement:

        1. The Government of India deputed the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri to fly by special plane to Jhoteshwar, Madhya Pradesh to meet Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, one of the Jagadguru Shankaracharyas at his Ashram. Suresh Pachouri, met him yesterday afternoon to seek the Acharya's help in containing the growing VHP-led agitation for protecting the Rama Setu.

        2. It is reliably understood that Pachauri told the Acharya that the Centre has decided to abandon the plan to breach the Rama Setu for the Setu Samudram Canal Project, and that it is seeking 'an amicable way out'.

        3. It is learnt from my sources in the Government of India that the Prime Minister has also told the Union Shipping Minister, T R Baalu 'not to touch the Rama Setu'.

        4. After a one-to-one talk with Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati at the latter's Ashram at Jhoteshwar near here for about 20 minutes last night, Pachouri told UNI that he would convey to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Ministers concerned about the discussion he had with the Shankaracharya.

        6. After the talks, Swami Swaroopanand told UNI that he was optimistic that the central government would forthwith stop the demolition of the Ram Setu as it is a centre of religious faith for Hindus.

        The nation as a whole is highly amused by the reported news item that Sonia Gandhi wants to corner the glory and the credit for saving Ram Setu making the stellar role played by the VHP and the RSS in organizing the country-wide movement for the protection of Ram Setu trivial and insignificant. When Mahatma Gandhi called off the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1922 following the Chauri Chaura Massacre in UP, he called it a HIMALAYAN BLUNDER. He said "If I make a mistake, I will not hesitate to retrace my steps and claim from the housetop that I was wrong. "

Thus there was nothing mysterious or nefarious or subterranean about the ways of Mahatma Gandhi He was both moral and humble. We cannot expect Sonia Gandhi to follow Mahatma Gandhi's example because she is neither moral nor humble. She can only re-enact a sham Dandi March or organize the humbug of a World Satyagraha Conference. Today's disgusting and disgraceful Congressmen fall at her feet only because of her such imperious qualities!!

http://newstodaynet.com/2007sud/jun07/070607.htm
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

PodUniversal - Edition 10 - June 07

Greenpeace, an International organisation for environment protection will internationalise the Sethu Canal project issue. In an exclusive and fist podcast interview, Mr Sanjiv Gopal, Oceans Campaign Manager, Greenpeace India says that Sethu Samudram Canal project will not be economically viable and also would damage the ecology. He further says that Greenpeace would internationalise the issue, if it is required. They would take up with UNESCO for declaring the Adams bridge site as 'World heritage'. Please listen to the full interview.

To listen to the visual podcast, please click the following link

http://poduniversal .blogspot. com/2007/ 06/greenpeace- to-international ise-setu. html

[Guest]

<b>US heritage body wants Ram Setu preserved</b>

Prakaash M Swami | New York

# <b>World Monuments Fund</b> favours garnering public support on this
ancient bridge

# Government can make it a tourist attraction, say experts
World Monuments Fund, an international preservation organisation that
brings out World Monuments Watch List of endangered sites, has said
that the Government of India should be made to realise that it's more
valuable to preserve Ram Setu or Adam's Bridge than demolishing it.

Marilyn Perry, chairman of the fund, said in an interview on the
sidelines of the function to release the list of endangered sites of
the world in its New York Madison Avenue office that the Federal
Government could consider sending scuba divers underwater to collect
sand deposits and analyse them in the laboratory. "The Government
could leave the disputed area untouched and make it as a tourist
attraction by sending tourists in glass bottom boats to see what's
inside the sea. That could compensate for whatever is the revenue loss
of diversion. They could also invite international team of scuba
divers to come and take underwater photography and tests to find out
whether the rock formations still exit. It's easy to demolish but hard
to construct anything again," she said.

Agreeing that the fund is not a world policeman and its requests may
fell on deaf ears, she said an alternative vision of the value which
Government officials may not see should be created. "They often only
see the water and the revenue and not the archaeological importance
beneath the sea. The organisers of the movement could use mass media
such as television and also make a film and show to the people to
create awareness. We have to create enough documentation that the
bridge was ancient and that it's sacred to both India and Sri Lanka as
it demonstrates historic connections. Instead of being frightened of
the national Government, the organisers should mobilise local people
to support the movement. You always need local support and can't do
anything without them."

On listing Ram Setu as an endangered historical monument, she said
unfortunately the nomination for this year was already over. "The
question is how to find a mechanism in this case to publicise it
extensively to gather public opinion. We need to know how the Sri
Lankan Government and people feel about the demolition. There is no
question of wrong and the right in any issue and the answer is finding
consensus. How much can we save or whether there are any alternatives
to the project without destruction. The Government could be made to
realise that it's more valuable to preserve the site. Often, the fund
may not be able to convince the Governments as we do not don
policemen's role. We could not stop the construction of a dam in
Turkey as the Government would not listen to us. The dam would flood
some of the great archaeological sites yet the Government was
adamant," she said.

Bonnie Burnham, president of the Fund, said the movement against the
project should be tenacious in getting the public voice heard. "If we
could convince the Federal Government on Taj Mahal which would have
been affected by developments, I am sure we can find a way out for
this issue too. Fortunately, lot of heritage bodies in India came
together and provided their support to stop an action that would have
had an adverse negative impact on the world monument. Joint voices
really do make a difference. The organisers should rope in bodies like
INTACH," she added.

In India, I hope there will be a much greater development of NGOs at
local level. There is no more awareness now and private sector can
really play a role. Heritage of India is too rich for the Government
to take care of by itself. Voice of the private sector will have a
clout on such matters. In India as of now, it's really not easy for
foreign NGOs to get established due to extremely laborious legal
process. There are not strong incentives for philanthropy. Changing
laws related to both the issues would have a huge impact and there is
very strong interest among foreign NGOs to get involved with India's
heritage. There is no infrastructure that supports the Government
efforts. No community exists that does not have something important to
say on Indian heritage, she added.

For any comments, queries or feedback, kindly mail us at
pioneerletters@ yahoo.co. in

[Guest]

श्रीराम सेतु की रक्षा के लिए बल प्रयोग की धमकी - Dainik Jagran

अयोध्या। बजरंग दल ने केंद्र सरकार को चेतावनी देते हुए कहा कि यदि सरकार अपनी हठधर्मिता वश श्रीराम सेतु तोड़ने की योजना 20 जुलाई से पूर्व नहीं छोड़ी तो हिंदू समाज रामसेतु की रक्षा के लिए बल प्रयोग तक कर सकता है। दल के राष्ट्रीय संयोजक प्रकाश शर्मा ने गोण्डा में संपन्न हुए बजरंग दल के प्रशिक्षण वर्ग से वापस लौटकर कारसेवकपुरम में एकदिवसीय प्रवास के दौरान शुक्रवार को यहां आरोप लगाया कि केंद्र सरकार रामसेतु तोड़कर भगवान श्रीराम का अस्तित्व समाप्त करने की नीति पर चल रही है, लेकिन दुनिया में ऐसी कोई भी ताकत नहीं है जो भगवान श्रीराम के नाम और काम को मिटा सके। उन्होंने केंद्र सरकार को 20 जुलाई तक सेतु समुद्रम परियोजना के वर्तमान रूप में परिवर्तन करने के लिए अल्टीमेटम भी दे दिया है और कहा कि यदि केंद्र सरकार ने रामसेतु तोड़ना बंद नहीं किया तो 21 एवं 22 जुलाई को रामलीला मैदान में आयोजित धर्मसंसद में साधु-संत कुछ भी निर्णय ले सकते हैं। जरूरत पड़ी तो प्रबल जनांदोलन शुरू कर दिया जाएगा जिसकी सारी जिम्मेदारी केंद्र सरकार की होगी। शर्मा ने कहा कि 6 दिसंबर 1992 की पुनरावृत्ति श्रीरामसेतु के रक्षार्थ बजरंगियों को न करना पड़ जाए। उन्होंने कहा कि जबसे केंद्र में सप्रंग सरकार का वर्चस्व कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष सोनिया गांधी के हाथों में आया तभी से हिंदुओं के आस्था केद्रों पर हमले तेज होते जा रहे हैं। हिदुओं की सांस्कृतिक और सामाजिक विरासत को विकास के नाम पर विखंडित करने का दुष्प्रयास किया जा रहा है। उन्होंने कहा हिंदू समाज अगर अब भी सजग नहीं हुआ तो आने वाली पीढ़ी अपने पूर्वजों के इस प्रकार के आत्मसमर्पण के लिए कोसेगी।

{Summarized Translation: Bajrang Dal National Convenor Prakash Sharma said in Ayodhya, that if needed, Bajrang Dal was ready to use force for the protection of Ram Setu. They would wait for the Dharma Sansad that has been convened for July 21 and 22 in New Delhi by Sadhu-Sants. BD would abide by the decision of Sadhu-Sants, and may decide whatever is deemed fit for the protection of Ram Setu.}

http://www.jagran.com/news/nationalnews.aspx?id=3446358

[Guest]

Review and comments are requested...

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><span style='color:red'>Significance of Rama Setu as described in Sri Skanda Purana</span>

Description of the significance of Rama Setu can be found in abundance throughout the literature of Dharma Shastras.  In Puranas, the importance of Setu is explained in great details, especially in Skanda Purana, Vishnu Purana, Agni Purana, and Brahma Purana.

This article explores Sri Skanda Purana, with objective of understanding the importance with which Rama Setu is held in the Hindu traditions, and how significant it really is for Hindus.

http://ramasetu.blogspot.com/2007/05/rama-...a-purana-1.html
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Thanks to all the members for help extended - speacially Hauma Hamiddha ji and Ashok Kumar Ji.

[Guest]

Lost and found: Sarasvati, Rama Setu (June 11, 2007) http://hinduthought.googlepages.com/nauticalsense.doc
http://kalyan97.wordpress.com/2007/06/11/l...vati-rama-setu/

[Guest]

<span style='color:red'>June 14, 2007 - Will Courts Deliver the Justice?</span>

Today was the second date of hearing on a PIL filed by Dr. Subramanyan Swamy and others in Madras High Court. On the earlier date of this case, as was reported here, this is what had happened:

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->when the petition of Swamy came up for hearing today before a division bench of Justices Jothimani and Sudhakar, he himself appeared and the Union government was represented by Assistant Solicitor general Wilson. As the Centre did not file counter petition, the case was adjourned to 14 June.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

And, today when the court met for that hearing again, this is what happened, reports Dr. S. Kalyanaraman:

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Though the previous bench had posted for hearing on 14th June, the three petitions of Dr. Subramanian Swamy and Shri Rama Gopalan were NOT listed today in the two-judge bench of Chief Justice Shah and Justice Jothimani.

So, a mention was made by the counsels (Dr. Swamy and Shri TV Ramanujam) as soon as the court 1 opened.

The bench asked about the case in Supreme Court. Dr. Swamy responded that the SC case was on environmental issues while his petitions were on different grounds, concerned about arbitrariness in decision and that Rama Setu should be deemed to be an ancient monument. The urgency was that the Rama Setu was being destroyed, as the Sethusamudram website claims 6% progress in the bridge segment. Dr. Swamy contented that no response has come from Min. of Culture. Govt. counsel said that a counter has been filed.

The petitions of Dr. Swamy and Shri Rama Gopalan were listed for hearing on Monday (18th) and Tuesday (19th) respectively.

The proceedings lasted 3 minutes.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<b>Indian Court rooms have not yet delivered any judgement in Ram Janma Bhumi case in over 60 years that the case is going on! Would they deliver justice in Ram Karma Bhumi case now? No harm in being optimistic!

kritam may dakhshine haste, jayo may savyaahitah! - "Effort is in my right hand, and victory in my left."</b>
Atharva Veda (7.52.8)

http://ramasetu.blogspot.com/2007/06/june-...ts-deliver.html

[Guest]

Indian court system is a biggest joke played by so called sick-ular politicians of India.

[Guest]

<span style='color:red'>June 15, 2007 - Rameshwaram Ram Setu Padayatra </span>
http://ramasetu.blogspot.com/2007/06/june-...m-ram-setu.html

Ram Sethu - Padayatra - Appeal - Tourism - A story
Came in e-mail from Sri Sanjay Shirodkar

To save Ram Sethu a Padayatra was organized by Col. Rajan and Sanjay Shirodkar during 20th May 2007 to 14th June 2007 from Chennai – Puducherry – Tanjavoor – Madurai – Ramnad – Rameshwaram. We have collected more that 10,000 signatures also. We did something productive for our motherland and it was a good learning experience also. Seeing Ram Sethu at Sethukarai village samudram was the most memorable experience. Walking under 37 degree celcius was not an easy task.

No health problems. I extend my regards to Sangh pariwar workers (RSS, BJP, VHP) & Hindu Munneni workers, without their assistance (especially Bhaskarji and his team from Chengalpattu, Shridharji and his team from Chidambaram, Sanilji & his team from Puducherry and Adalrasan & his team from Ramnad and Nagaraj & his team from Paramkudi), it was a big zero. Please forward my regards to Suryanarayan Raoji and Rama Gopalanji.

Post padayatra and after discussing this issue with local people, expert's and master mariner's. I can confidently say that this Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP) project is Bogus, Bunk and should be scrapped immediately. To prove this, comments from expert's like Dr. S Badrinarayan, Dr. SR Rao, Dr. Kalyanraman, V. Sundaram ex-IAS, Prof Tad Murthy, Capt Balakrishnan, CSP Iyer are readily available. Why don't this UPA government cross check their statements and keep the truth in front of the people? If we Hindus together, don't push then this will turn as "One more looting program of India", and lead to a fraud of Rs. 2234 crores.

Capt Balakrishnan's report have reached to Defence Minister AK Antony, Courtesy Dr. Subramaniam Swamy. He showed a great conern. Normally our Defence budgets are low and on top of that Indian Navy always find short of funds. In this current dire strait situation, why don't this brainless UPA government divert these funds to Indian Navy instead of wasting on a bogus project like SSCP. In that region no alignment is viable. This SSCP will be a waste of money, labour, time, fuel everything.

Visiting Sethukarai village samudram, which is 15kms away from Ramnathapuram and seeing Ram Sethu with your own eyes, was the most memorable experience. It's unbelievable. They say, that Ram Sethu actually starts from Sethukarai. From Sethukarai seashore it is hardly 2-3 kms inside the sea and with normal fisherman's boat you can visit that holy place. Every person in the world should go and see this amazing structure.

Instead of destroying this, if this state and central government promote this Ram Setu as one the Greatest Wonders of the World and declare as International Heritage Site and advertise properly to appeal national and international tourist to visit this place, I am sure response will be over whelming. Both governments can earn much more than the SSCP budget. The best part is, this income will be recurring and never ending. This will leave behind Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Char Minar or any other monuments of Bharat by miles.

I appeal to both Tamilnadu and Central government to think on this track and act fast.

Jaihind! ……… Sanjay

Author can be contacted - sanjay.shirodkar at gmail dot com.

[Bharatvarsh]

Reference in Ponniyan Selvan:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->"We can go via Kodi Karai. That would be the easiest way. But reaching Kodi Karai from here is difficult. Moreover the Cholas have spies all through that route. So the best thing to do would be to go to Sethu and cross the sea there. We will land near Mandhotham. From there we will have to find our way. Another thing, whoever is to go to Sri Lanka must know to swim and row a boat. Who among you knows to swim?"

http://www.zine5.com/interactive/index.php...article&sid=134<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

wow!

Bharat Bhai! your reference makes Karunanidhi "Charon Khaane Chitta!" Thanks!

[Guest]

<span style='color:red'>Ramar Sethu breach may sink Vizag </span>

Visakhapatnam , June 17: City-based marine expert Bandaru Venkata Adinarayana has warned that Chennai and Visakhapatnam would go under water if the Ramar Sethu (Adams Bridge) is breached. Dredging is being undertaken in the Ramar Sethu area for the proposed Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project and Mr Adinarayana says that this would cause unprecedented sand erosion.

According to the retired assistant garrison engineer, Rameswaram, Kakinada, Puduchery, Puri and other small towns and villages along the East Coast would all vanish from the map before the turn of the century because of erosion.

Mr Adinarayana, who has worked in many naval dockyards and has studied various dimensions of SSCP, has also warned that prestigious coast guard projects at Ramnad, Mandapam and Paradeep might be swallowed by the sea. Sriharikota may be eroded and Chilika Lake may become a part of Bay of Bengal in 30 to 60 years.

Once the Ramar Sethu/Adam's Bridge is dredged to complete the SSCP, there would be huge erosion of sand from the east coast to the Indian Ocean. Abnormal sand erosion has already been observed on the Vizag beach after SSCP work started in 2005, he said.

SSCP entails cutting a canal to connect the Gulf of Mannar with the Palk Bay in order to shorten the sea route between the east and west coasts of India. A submerged reef called the Ramar Sethu/Adam's Bridge, believed by many to be the bridge built by Lord Rama's vanara army, links Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu with Talaimannar in Sri Lanka.

This reef has impeded the movement of ships between the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Bay, forcing them to take a detour. SSCP was conceived to remove this impediment.

However, the 280-km long and 25-km wide Ramar Sethu was also blocking the sand flow into the Indian Ocean on the west coast. SSCP engineers are planning to dredge the Ramar Sethu 20km long, 300 metres wide and 12 metres deep to create the canal. "It will trigger a major disaster in the entire east coast of India, north of Sri Lanka and south of Bangladesh," said Mr Adinarayana.

Even the small three-metre deep and 100-metre wide dredging by the British for the Pamban canal had triggered major erosion causing the disappearance of temples in Mahabalipuram and Visakhapatnam.

"In some places, the erosion of the sea was almost 5 km," said Mr Adinarayana. "Kavaripoombokarpatnam near Nagapatnam submerged in sea and Chilka Lake turned salty." Sri Lanka too suffered. There were 1,378 islands there till 1600. But at present, only 113 islands remain in the mainland. "This is also because of sand erosion after the opening of Pamban canal."

For the SSCP, the Centre has set apart Rs 140 crore for continuous dredging. Mr Adinarayana estimates that around 63,860,400 cubic metres of sand would be eroded in a year after Ramar Sethu is cut open for 300 metres. "This means that the sand drift into Indian Ocean from SSCP will be 24 times that of the Pamban canal," he said. "It also means the damage will be 24 times more."

http://www.deccan.com/Region/RegionNews.as...%20sink%20Vizag

[Guest]

Further disappointments continue to come from the Court rooms:

<span style='color:red'>Court not inclined to stay Sethu project</span> - The Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/19/stories/...700400.htm

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Monday said it was not inclined to stay the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project, as the matter had already been dealt with by different courts at different stages, and that no court granted interim injunction.

During the course of arguments on a public interest litigation petition filed by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, the First Bench, however, said the matter involved issues such as whether the project area had any national monument or whether a breach of 300 metres of the Adam’s Bridge would severely affect the nature of the structure.

When Additional Solicitor-General of India V.T. Gopalan submitted that the 35-km Adam’s Bridge was a natural formation and that there was no trace of any human effort, Chief Justice A.P. Shah said, “even if it is natural formation, my personal opinion is that they should not be touched.” Reiterating that the court would not interfere with the implementation of the scheme, the Bench, comprising Justice Shah and Justice P. Jyothimani, said the Madras High Court in its wisdom had decided an earlier writ petition in the matter and that the Supreme Court too did not pass any interim order. The project had progressed further and stopping it was not possible, they observed. <span style='color:blue'>Why?????? - so an unjust thing, if progressed beyond a point, becomes justified????</span>

Earlier, responding to an observation that dredging of 300 metres of the Bridge could wait while works on the remaining portion of the project could go on, Mr. Gopalan said such a development would hit the entire Rs. 2,800-crore project. He said 826 organisations had been consulted and their suggestions considered by the authorities before launching the project in July 2005. “The project has taken shape, has a deadline and contracts too have been finalised,” he said. Some neighbouring nations, which stood to lose due to the project, were interested in seeking that the project did not take off, he said.

Earlier, Dr. Swamy said that before moving the court he had approached all authorities, including the President and the Prime Minister. The Government was not performing its statutory duty of protecting a national monument, adding that the Union Ministry of Culture had not filed any counter-affidavit in the matter despite a notice from the court.

He said the notification for public hearing was issued only in a few districts and that the exercise was to ascertain the feelings of the people.

G. Masilamani, senior counsel for Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani, asked as to why Dr. Swamy should approach the court at this stage.

The Bench said it would pass orders on Tuesday, after hearing another petition from the Hindu Munnani.

[Guest]

related to the above court proceedings, Dr, Kalyanaraman has a different story to report. Above news should be anyways discounted by 80%, given that it appeared in The (anti-)Hindu.

E-mail from Dr. K says:

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->While waiting for the written order of the Madras High Court passed on 19 June 2007 some highlights can be reported.

The hearings took place both on 18th and 19th on four petitions: two petitions of Dr. Subramanian Swamy, one petition of Rama Gopalan and one impleading petition of Dr. S. Kalyanaraman.

A very wide range of issues related to the Sethusamudram channel and Rama Setu were considered in impressive court interventions and presentations by Dr. Swamy and Shri D. Sethuraman, Shri TV Ramanujam, Shri TV Krishnamachari Advocates.

The order passed by the court will constitute a landmark judgement in Indian jurisprudence. The order is a veritable direction for the imperative of determining an ancient monument of national importance under the 1958 Act in the context of the constitutional duty of every citizen and the responsibility of the state to protect such monuments. The order directed the Govt. of India and Director of Archaeological Survey of India to file their response in 4 weeks to the details provided by petitioners on the issue of Rama Setu as a national monument and to specify why other alignments which would not damage Rama Setu can be considered to protect the monument. (Court noted that no reasons in project reports, were adduced as to why other alignments were not evaluated so as not to damage Rama Setu – a specific injunction which was recorded by A Ramaswamy Mudaliar Committee Report of 1956).

Many details of evidences related to Rama Setu or Adam's Bridge were also cited in the Court order. The  authoritative version of the court order will be forwarded as soon as it  becomes available.

The case was posted for the next hearing on July 23, 2007.

Here are some news reports which provide the usual skewed p-sec media perspective, together with a background on issues deliberated.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

However, July 23 is too late!!!! The dredging, dispite all the protests, continue, and have already completed 9% of the progress, as per the project website! Why could the court not issue a stay till the next hearing?

[Guest]

<b>Today's Parasurama for the cause of Rama Setu</b> V SUNDARAM

[Guest]

Ram Sethu man-made, says Madras HC
http://in.news.yahoo.com/070619/139/6h5cf.html
"The Madras High Court today said that the <b><span style='color:red'>mythological</span></b> Ram Sethu across Palk Bay is man made. "

Strange statement, to put it mildly. Everyone agrees that the MYTHOLOGICAL whatever is man-made, question is whether "MADRAS" High Court agrees that the REAL structure in the sea is man-made.

BTW, why is it called "Madras" High Court? Not Chennai? Motion to Get Name of City Right is pending b4 court for the past 10 years? Or Their Honners can't spell "Chennai"? Or they still think they are in Robert Clive's Madrass Presidency? Reminds me of the famous Limerick:

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--> <i>There was a Judge from Madrass
whose **** were made of brass

In stormy weather they clanged together
And sparks flew out of his *ss!</i> <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Guest]

The (anti-)Hindu reports:

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday sought to know from the Centre whether the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) could be implemented without affecting the Adam’s Bridge/Ramar Palam.

Making it clear that the court would not stay the implementation of the project, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice A.P. Shah and Justice P. Jyothimani said: “We are not inclined to grant any interim relief at this stage, so as to hamper the project work. We leave it to the Union of India to decide whether the cutting of the Adam’s Bridge/Ramar Palam could be postponed till the issues involved in these petitions are considered by this court and are finally disposed of.” The Bench, however, directed the Union of India to file a counter-affidavit, “explaining as to whether any study has been undertaken by the archaeological or any other department in respect of the Adam’s Bridge/Ramar Palam.” The Judges also sought to know whether the bridge could be regarded as a national monument within the meaning of the Ancient Monuments (Protection) Act 1958. The Bench said: “The Union of India may also explain as to whether the project can be implemented without affecting the Adam’s Bridge/Ramar Palam, resorting to some other routes as discussed by previous committees.” Pointing out that the prayer of the petitioners was the implementation of the project without affecting the bridge, the Judges said, “according to them it is a national monument.”

Seeking to distinguish the earlier writ petitions, which were dismissed by the court, the Bench said the issue in those petitions was whether the project would cause environmental damage and degradation in the region.

As for the NEERI’s report on the project, the First Bench said the report did not discuss whether any other route was possible in order to avoid the cutting of Adam’s Bridge.

Referring to Additional Solicitor-General V.T. Gopalan’s stand that the structure was not man-made but a natural formation, the Bench said, <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>“be that as it may. The definition in the 1958 Act it is apparent that a national monument has a very wide meaning, and included stone, river, etc.” Citing several experts’ accounts and historical evidence, the Bench said <b>there was ample evidence to the existence of a bridge in the project area.</b></span>

The Bench then adjourned the matter to July 23 for further proceedings, and impleaded the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) president, K. Veeramani, also as a party to the proceedings.

http://www.hindu.com/2007/06/20/stories/...070800.htm
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

1. The quoted above highlighted in red are the exact words. Written order to follow tomorrow.

2. Same veeramani who burns Ramayana and Gita, as those are insultful to women.

[Guest]

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>HC poser to Centre on Adam's Bridge - Times Of India</b>

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered Union government to file its reply within four weeks on the contentious issue of Sethusamudram Canal Project which, when completed, would destroy the Adam's Bridge believed to have been constructed during the Ramayana period.

Chief Justice A P Shah and P Jyothimani were acting on two separate public interest litigations filed by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy and Hindu Munnani.

After hearing the case, the judges posed three questions:

One, had there been any study by Archaeological Survey of India or any other department to ascertain whether the Adam's bridge was man-made or naturally formed?

Two, could the bridge be regarded as a national monument under Archaeological Monuments Protection Act? And, three, would it be possible to implement the project without affecting the structure in dispute, by altering the project's existing route?

Interestingly, on Monday, <b>Justice Shah, during the course of arguments, had said the bridge shouldn't be disturbed. "The bridge shouldn't be touched even if it's a natural formation. That's my personal opinion," he'd commented.</b>

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/H...how/2134940.cms
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->