Massive VHP protest in Delhi against Ram Setu project

Thousands of VHPsupporters assemble in the Capital in support of their demand to scrap the Ram Setu project in Tamil Nadu.

Thousands of supporters of VHP and other Hindu religious organisations on Sunday assembled in New Delhi in support of their demand to scrap the Ram Setu project in Tamil Nadu.

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Addressing the gathering, RSS 'Sarsanghachalak' KS Sudarshan cautioned the UPA government at Centre against going ahead with the project.

"Ram Setu signifies India's cultural heritage. We will not allow the government to go ahead with the project."

Sudarshan said the project would create many socio-economic problems for the people living in the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

"Not only Hindus but Muslims and Christians are also opposing the project," he claimed.

The RSS chief appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to succumb to the pressure of DMK to execute the project.

"The Prime Minister should not think about the survival of his government. If he scraps the project, he will get good wishes of the crores of Hindus," Sudarshan said.

More than 50,000 supporters of Sangh Parivar affiliated organisations from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and other states participated in the rally.

Prominent among those present in the rally include BJP president Rajnath Singh, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley, senior leader Sushma Swaraj, VHP leader Pravin Togadia besides others.

BJP patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpaee has sent a message to the organisers wishing all success of the rally. Senior party leader and Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani is also expected to address the gathering later in the day.