Click to play videoNew Delhi: Under the quiet cover of a very populist budget, the Congress has made an important political move in the Supreme Court on Friday.
The Sethusamudram project is on and the government's intention to give the project a green signal has been made clear in the affidavit filed in court.
Coalition compulsions have finally dictated terms and the UPA has given in to the DMK's wishes.
“We do not address any issue of faith. We are not addressing the issue whether Ram existed or not. We have told the court these are the scientific studies, these are the technical data,“ said Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
This politically risky decision followed several rounds of meetings in the Group of Ministers set up specifically for the purpose. Two meetings of the Cabinet Committee of Political Affairs had to be convened as well.
The affidavit said that state policy cannot be decided on the basis of any faith. Whether Ram Setu was constructed by Ram or not cannot be determined by scientific methods. The present alignment for the project is the best possible alignment. The Centre has taken environment clearance from NEERI. The danger of tsunamis will reduce if this project is done
The first affidavit had also pleaded in favour of the project but then Culture Minister Ambika Soni had come under a lot of political pressure.
The Sangh Parivar made a huge issue of the Centre telling court that Ram was a mythological character. The Parivar continues to be against any damage to Adam's Bridge
“We would like to warn the government not to precipitate this issue otherwise it will lead to an unnecessary confrontation,“ senior BJP Yashwant Sinha has said.
Though these are politically dangerous waters, the Congress wants to ride it out rather than displease a crucial Southern ally.
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