August 27, 2007: Protests Continue, so does the Destruction

Petition with 1 Crore signatures to protect Ram Sethu presented to the President of India. Protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi

The agitation of Hindus against the destruction of Ram Sethu has reached at its peak. The whole country is agitated over the issue. As part of the countrywide agitations, dharnas, demonstrations, rallies, observing fasts, presenting memorandums and conducting signature campaigns by different organisations, a massive dharna was staged at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on August 23 to exert pressure on the UPA government.

Amonst the speakers to addess the agitators were senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, VHP general secretary Dr Pravin Togadia, and national president of Ram Sethu Raksha Manch Dr S. Kalyanraman.

VHP's protest movement at Rameshwaram, further protest evenst upcoming.

Dr. Subramanian Swamy, moves SC seeking injunction against channel project

Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy today said he would approach the Supreme Court on August 31 to seek a formal injunction against the execution of the Sethu Samudram Canal Project.Speaking to reporters here, he demanded that the union government bring out a white paper on the project, which would bring to light the truth about who chose the present alignment for the project.Disputing the government claim that NASA had stated that the bridge was a natural geographical evolution, he said even if it was so, the area was still holy and sacred for Hindus just as the ice linga formed naturally in Amarnath cave.

Meanwhile, undeterred by any amount of protests, and determined to quickly do away with the Setu, Government continues the dredging in Setu area.

August 27, 2007 Destruction status -- 22.53% (dredged quantity: 108,26,126 cu.m.) Source: http://sethusamudram.gov.in/ProjectStatus.asp

July 28, 2007 Destruction Status - 17.57%
Aug 2, 2007 destruction status: 19.46% dredged quantity: 9350219 cum till 2/8/2007

SC has asked GOI to respond to Madras HC orders of 19 June 2007, on why should the Setu not be considered a Heritage Monement. Government's response - Continued dredging in the Setu area...