Saturday, February 2, 2008

Congress admits: Lord Ram a symbol of Indian culture

February 2, 2008 The Hindu

Chennai (PTI): Striking a discordant note with its key ally DMK on the issue of Ram Sethu, the Congress on Friday said that it wanted the implementation of Sethusamudram Shipping canal project, but did not want to hurt the feelings of the believers of the mythological bridge.

'Lord Ram is a symbol of Indian culture and every Indian should try to emulate him', Congress Whip S Peter Alphonse told the state Assembly while participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to governor for his address.

"Ram is all that is noble on Indian soil.. all Indians should follow Ram for his characteristics.... while we demand the implementation of the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal for the development of Tamil Nadu, we at the same time don't want to hurt the feelings (of believers of Ramsethu)," he said.

The DMK had been saying that the Ram Sethu was not built by Lord Ram and it was a natural bridge. DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's remarks questioning whether Lord Ram was an engineer to construct the bridge drew flak from several quarters.

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