Declare Ram Setu a national monument: VHP

New Delhi: Criticising the government for refusing to take a stand on the issue, Vishwa Hindu Parishad today demanded that the mythological Ram Setu be declared a national monument. “We demand that the government file an affidavit in the Supreme Court announcing the cancellation of the Setu Samudram project and declaring the Ram Setu a national monument, VHP leader Praveen Togadia said. His denouncement of the government’s decision came on a day when Additional Solicitor General Haren Raval submitted in the SC that the government after consultations has decided not to take any stand on the issue of declaring the mythological Ram Setu a national monument. The government has left it on the Supreme Court to decide on the issue. [caption id=“attachment_281659” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=” Criticising the government for refusing to take a stand on the issue, Vishwa Hindu Parishad today demanded that the mythological Ram Setu be declared a national monument. AFP"]  [/caption] The case relating to Ram Setu came under judicial scrutiny due to a bunch of petitions filed in the apex court against the ambitious Sethusamudram project, whose execution allegedly was to damage the mythological bridge. In a statement, Togadia said the government’s move reflects its “anti-Hindu sentiments” as Hindus have been offering prayers to Ram Setu even before the country gained independence and the Britishers came to India. PTI