Laxmanananda Saraswati criticize Centre over Ram Sethu

Bhubaneswar:(20/11) Noted Hindu religious leader Swami Laxmanananda
Saraswati on Tuesday charged the Congress president Sonia Gandhi
saying she was more worried for Rome than Ram. Speaking at Shiv Lingam
Pujan organised by the VHP as part of the nation wide agitation
against the Sethu Samundram Shipping Canal Project here in the
premises of the Lingaraj Temple, Swami Saraswati said that those are
questioning Lord Ram's identity; they are directly questioning
country's history and rich culture. "Congress President Gandhi is
being more worried for the survival of Churchs in Rome but not the
survival of Lord Ram and Temples in India," he charged. Criticising
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi for his
remarks on Lord Ram, he challenged him to a public debate on the Ram
Sethu issue. "We respect Karunanidhi as an elder statesman of the
country. But his insulting remarks on Lord Ram have hurt the
sentiments of saints, heads of 'Mutts' and millions of Hindus. We are
unhappy with him for the remarks. I dare him to have a debate with me
on the issue," he said. The Chief Minister, Karunanidhi had taken the
oath under the Constitution and should not "insult" any religion.
"Such actions can not be tolerated. They are representatives of the
public and should not vitiate the atmosphere by making such remarks,"
he viewed. "Those who enjoy power in the name of Mahatma Gandhi have
forgotten that Gandhi himself was a Ram devotee. Now they are
questioning the existence of Ram. This is not proper," he added.
Several Hindu religious leaders including Krupanandaji Maharaj,
Chidananda Maharaj, Badakeshari Maharaj, VHP State secretary Gouri
Prasad Rath, Niranjan Nanda, Pramod Acharya, Justice Papanna, A Kar
and Khageswar Das Maharaj were among those present on this issue.