The Hindu : National : Sethu issue is beyond Gujarat election: Modi

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Thursday, Sep 20, 2007
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Sethu issue is beyond Gujarat election: Modi

Vidya Subrahmaniam

AHMEDABAD/VADODARA: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday described the Ram Sethu project as an issue going beyond the Assembly election in Gujarat. Speaking to this correspondent en route to a function on the outskirts of Vadodara, he said the issue affected public sentiment across the country.

“If the Government of India declares in an affidavit that Ram was never born, people everywhere are going to react. There is no election except in Gujarat. Yet, it is an issue outside Gujarat too. Why? Why are editorials being written on the subject? Because Ram is a matter of faith for all Indians. The citizen of this country is concerned about it, election or no election.”

Earlier in the day, Gujarat BJP president Purushottam Rupala, told The Hindu that his party had every intention of making Ram Sethu an election issue. Mr. Rupala described the controversy as a Congress gift to the BJP. Whatever gaps there were in the BJP’s campaign had been taken care of by the United Progressive Alliance’s opposition to Ram. “Ram Sethu is the sethu [bridge] that will connect the BJP to the people,” he said.

Asked for his reaction to Mr. Rupala’s assertion, Mr. Modi said he would not refute it. “Please quote him on that.” Indeed, the Chief Minister has himself raised the subject at rallies and public functions. Speaking at the annual mela in Tarnetar off Rajkot last week, he accused the UPA government of trying to accomplish what Ravana with all his might could not. “Ravana tried his best to prevent the Ram Sethu from being built. But by the grace of Lord Ram, he was defeated in that mission. The UPA government is threatening to break that divine bridge.”

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