Centre told to shelve Sethu project by Nov 20

The Rameswaram Ram Sethu Protection Movement on Friday warned of 'serious implications' if the UPA government at the Centre neglected the sentiments of crores of Hindus on the issue of Ram Sethu.

Serving an ultimatum, movement Joint Organiser Milind Parande told media persons in Coimbatore that the entire country will witness a strong agitation, if the government did not shelve the Sethusamudram Project or change its alignment by November 20.
 
The leaders and saints belonging to the movement will decide the mode of agitation, which would be stronger than the one the country witnessed on September 12, when traffic was disrupted for three hours throughout the country as part of a Vishwa Hindu Parishad -led agitation, he said.

As part of the programmes to caution the government, the movement was organising a 'padayatra (journey on foot) by saints' in every district headquarters of the country and such a yatra will be held here on October 23, he said.

Similarly, to create awareness on the existence of Lord Ram and Ramayana, the movement will celebrate the Valmiki Jayanti on October 26, he said.

The movement did not have confidence in the expert panel constituted by Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu, who was 'hellbent on destroying' the bridge, as it would not give a balanced view on the issue, Parande said.