Soni keeps PM in loop over Setu issue

Union Culture Minister Ambika Soni has discussed with PM the drafting of a fresh affidavit on the Ram Setu issue before the SC.

Union Culture Minister Ambika Soni is understood to have discussed with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the drafting of a fresh affidavit on the Ram Setu issue before the Supreme Court.

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Soni called on the prime minister on Friday and is understood to have briefed him about the drafting of the fresh affidavit on the issue, Culture Ministry sources said.

The Minister had to suffer a major embarrassment after the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) questioned the existence of Lord Rama in its affidavit on the Sethusamudram issue before the Supreme Court last September.

The affidavit had to be withdrawn later after strong protest from Hindu groups.

The new affidavit is being drafted carefully in a matter-of-fact manner and it is likely to mention that the project was conceived during the NDA regime, the sources said.

Legal officers and ASI officials involved with the controversial affidavit filed before the Supreme Court last time have been removed from future involvement in the case.

With recent election results of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh going the BJP way, the Congress-led UPA government is trying to avoid another political storm over the Ram Setu issue.