साधना के बिना प्रतिभा का सामर्थ्य असंभव होता है – डॉ. मोहन भागवत जी

मुंबई (विसंकें). राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के सरसंघचालक डॉ. मोहन भागवत जी ने कहा कि अपनी प्रतिभा के प्रकाश से जगमगाने वाली प्रतिभाओं की नक्षत्र मालिका को अभिवादन करता हूँ. आज सम्मानित हुई प्रतिभाओं का सम्मान मैं करूँ, ऐसा मेरे पास कुछ भी नहीं है. फिर भी इस कार्यक्रम में आया हूँ, उत्कर्ष के नित नए शिखरों को छूने वाली इन प्रतिभाशाली शख्सियतों के कृतित्व के परिचय से, मनोगत से सामने आने वाले भारत के उज्ज्वल भविष्य का दर्शन करने के लिए. साधना के बिना प्रतिभा का सामर्थ्य असंभव होता है. और साधना करते हुए, उन क्षेत्रों में काम करते समय प्रतिष्ठा, पुरस्कार, सम्मान की अपेक्षा रखकर प्रदर्शन नहीं किया जा सकता. लेकिन यह मन में, और कृति में होता है कि सफलता के कारण समाज का, देश का सम्मान बढ़ेगा.

सरसंघचालक जी 24 अप्रैल को मराठी संगीत की रंगभूमि के संगीत सूर्य मा. दीनानाथ मंगेशकर जी की 75वीं पुण्यतिथि के अवसर पर मुंबई में श्रीषण्मुखानंद चंद्रशेखरेंद्र सरस्वती सभागृह में मा. दीनानाथ प्रतिष्ठान द्वारा आयोजित मा. दीनानाथ पुरस्कार वितरण और संगीतमय कार्यक्रम में मुख्य अतिथि के रूप में संबोधित कर रहे थे.

सरसंघचालक जी ने कहा कि सावली संस्था के किशोर देशपांडे को समाज के दुखी जनों का दुख दूर करने का काम किसी ने दिया नहीं था, बल्कि यह उनके अंतर्मन की सहानुभूति थी. संतों ने कहा है कि सहानुभूति रखने वाले लाभ की आशा किए बिना प्रीति करते हैं. कपिलदेव और अन्य पुरस्कार विजेताओं के अनुभव कथन से यही व्यक्त हुआ है.

गायन के बारे में भी ऐसा ही है. `गंगा जले, गंगा पूजा’ यह व्यवहार नहीं बल्कि संस्कार है. गंगा में खड़े रह कर उसी के पानी से अंजुली भरकर उसी के अर्घ्य से गंगा का पूजन करना यही संस्कार कला भी देती है. इसीलिए यह सम्मान केवल इन प्रतिभाओं का, उनके कलाक्षेत्रों तक सीमित न रहते हुए संपूर्ण भारत का हो जाता है. वर्तमान भारत में कुछ अच्छा नहीं हो रहा है, ऐसा संभ्रम भी दूर किया हो रहा है. उत्तम, उज्ज्वल कल की आशा का दर्शन यहीं होता है. इसीलिए ऐसे कार्यक्रमों में आना चाहिए. यहां आकर अपने अंतर्मन की ज्योति प्रकट करनी चाहिए और अपनी मर्यादित क्षमता का समाज के उन्नयन के लिए उपयोग में लाए जाने की भावना से काम करना चाहि‍ए. ये सभी प्रतिभावान सूर्य की तरह हैं, लेकिन यदि सूर्य छुट्टी पर जाने की बात कह दे तो किसी छोटे से दीपक के प्रकाश का अस्तित्व जीवंत रखने जैसा संस्कार ऐसे कार्यक्रमों से मिलता है. ऐसे कार्यक्रमों का यही प्रयोजन होता है. आमिर खान जैसे अभिनेता की वेशभूषा का अनुकरण होते हुए हम देखते हैं. प्रतिभाशाली लोगों का यही सामर्थ्य होता है. समाज उनके पीछे चलने का प्रयास करता रहता है.

डॉ. मोहन भागवत जी ने कहा कि अस्तित्वहीन अंधकार को छोटे से प्रकाश पुंज से प्रकाशित किया जा सकता है. ऐसा सामर्थ्य, ऐसा विश्वास देने वाली इस नक्षत्र मालिका को और इन्हें पुरस्कृत करने वाले मास्टर दीनानाथ जी के `दिव्य स्वातंत्र्य सूर्य’ की आराधक विरासत को अधिक तेज से उद्दीप्त करने वाली लता दीदी के सामर्थ्यपूर्ण नेतृत्व में कार्यरत मंगेशकर परिवार को नमस्कार करके मैं अपनी धन्यता प्रकट करता हूँ.

Thousands will join Ram Setu Suraskhya Mahasamabesha

Bhubaneswar: (Visakeo)-More than 10,000 people from Orissa will join the Ram Setu Raskhya Mahasamabesha in New Delhi on December 30. VHP State general secretary Gouri Prasad Rath on Thursday said that more than 20 lakh people across the country would congregate and would demanded protection of Ram Setu. People of Orissa will leave for New Delhi on December 28 in different trains, Rath said. "Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should tender an apology to people and Ram Sethu should be declared a national monument," he demanded.

Warm welcome to Rameswaram Sila Yatra in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar(Visakeo): With the appeal of the Rameswaram Setu Surakhya Manch the state wide rally took its turn into Bhubaneswar. "The Ratha passed, touching the unit-1, unit-2, Bapujinagar and Unit-8 of the capital" said the State speaker of the Mancha. The Ratha took it's track from Chousathi Jogini temple on 26th and passed through Basantmal, Abhyamukhi,Balipatna,Raghunathpur,Patia, Chandrasekherpur, Tamando, Kalinganagar, Barabari, Gandamaunda and various part of the capital, arranging various awareness programmes on its way", he added. Several discussions were made with the presence of saints and monks regarding the issue. The rally holds its track with the spiritual speech of Santha Bhagban Das Maharaj, Santha Ramprasanna Das. "On 6th of this month the Ratha is going to pass through VSS Nagar, Jayadev Vihar, Vani Vihar, Salisahi, in the next day, Rasulgarh,Pandara,Jharpara,Laxmisagar, on 8th through Bargarh, Buddheswari, Unit-3, Satyanagar, Press Colony and in the end, on 9th it will reach Old Bhubaneswar passing Kapileswar and Samantpur .The Ratha will come to the end in Lingaraj temple with a massive meeting" said Sri Khatua.

RSS lights 1001 Deepa for protection of Ram Sethu

Bhubaneswar: (Visakeo)RSS has lighted as many as 1001 Deepa (a form of
Hindu religious items for prayer here at the historic Khandgiri caves
on the outskirt of the Temple City and took oath to fight against the
evil designs being planted by the Congress led UPA Government at
Centre and DMK backed M Karunanidhi led Government in Tamil Nadu over
the Rs 2.427 crorers Sethu Samundram Shipping Canal Project. RSS
leaders while observing the Dussehra here, said that the Government
and its allies are serving the interests of the Americans and the
Chinese through the Sethusamudram project. "When the common people,
scientists, environmentalists and archaeologists are vouching for the
existence of the Ram Sethu and the grave dangers posed by its proposed
breaking, Union Minister T R Baalu and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
Karunanidhi are bent upon rubbishing them and trying to thrust their
dictatorship. Do such ministers have a right to continue in their
offices?" Puri Bibhaga Boudhika Pramukha Kushna Chandra Nayak asked.

He also claimed that the Sethusamudram project doesn't make any
economic sense as is being claimed by the UPA Government. He dwelt at
length on how the project will endanger the rich thorium deposits
along the coast that can revolutionise India's nuclear programme.
Other speakers observed that the US is trying to strengthen its
control over the Indian Ocean through the proposed waterway and is
pressuring the Indian Government to push the project. Similarly,
China, which has set up its strategic base at the Coco Island near
Myanmar, too, will be greatly helped by the project since it is
planning to build a modern port on an island near Sri Lanka, they
said. RSS State joint secretary Gopal Prasad Mohapatra, Khandgiri
Division secretary Gopal Rout, Arbinda Das, Debi Prasad Mohapatra,
Bhaskar Behera.

VHP to launch Ram Sethu Shila Yatra from Nov 26

Bhubaneswar: (visakeo)The State unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on
Tuesday announced to organise a month-long "Ram Sethu Shila Yatra"
from 30 districts and the yatra will traverse the whole State in order
to mobilize public opinion against the Sethu Samundram Shipping Canal
project of the DMK led Tamil Nadu Government. VHP will organize such
yatras in 2,000 places across the country from November 20 to protect
Ram Sethu.

VHP State secretary Gouri Prasad Rath said that millions of Hindus
would be enrolled for the yatra and poojas would be performed in all
12 "jyotirlingas" during it. He called upon all Hindu politicians to
support the yatra for safeguarding the Ram Sethu in the State. He
alleged that said that the UPA and Tamil Nadu Government and are
serving the interests of the Americans and the Chinese through the
Sethusamudram project. When the common people, scientists,
environmentalists and archaeologists are vouching for the existence of
the Ram Sethu and the grave dangers posed by its proposed breaking,
Union Minister T R Baalu and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi are
bent upon rubbishing them and trying to thrust their dictatorship. Do
such people have a right to continue in their offices?" Rath asked

.

Sadhus ask Karunanidhi to scrape Setu Samundram project

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): Leading Sadhus from across the State, who have joined the Ram Sethu Rakhaya Jatra, on Monday asked the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunannidhi to immediately scrape the Setu Samundram Shipping Canal Project and publicly apologies for his defamatory remarks on Lord Ram and Tulis Das's Ram Charit Manas. Sachidanandaji Maharaj of Dhinkipita mutt of Puri charged both Central and Tamil Nadu Government over the issue and warned dire consequence, if they go ahead with the project. What they know about Lord Ram, he asked and added that such anti-Hindu polices of either Government would not be tolerated.
"We shocked over the Centre and Tamil Nadu Government for their stand on Lord Ram's existence," he added.
Meanwhile, Ram Sethu Rakhaya jatra, which was kicked off on Saturday got good response from the people of Orissa. Five Jatras from different parts of the State will culminate at five different places on October 10, said Rameswaram Sri Ram Sethu Rakhaya Mancha State spokesman Simanchal Khatua on Monday. A jatra, which was kicked off at Puri on Sunday reached Bhubaneswar on Monday. A special meeting held here at Lingaraj temple, Ram Mandir and Sikharchandi Temple in Patia on the outskirt of Bhubaneswar. Several Hindu religious preachers, who are accoipnaying the Jatra, alleged that the UPA Government has crossed all limits in hurting the sentiments of Hindus living across the globe. Sadhus however send strong message to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunannidhi while asking him to immediately scrape the project .

Ram Sethu Rakhaya Jatra from Oct 6

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): Ram Sethu Rakhaya Jatra will be taken out through out the State from October from 6 in order to mobilise public opinion against the Sethusamundram Shipping Canal Project of Tamil Nadu Government. During the jatra, Hindu religious preachers, academicians, social activists, environmentalists and people of other walks of life will take part in the jatra. Rameswaram Sri Ram Sethu Rakhaya Mancha State spokesman Simanchal Khatua said on Thursday that Jatra would be kick off from five different places of the State to gather support for the protection of Ram Sethu. Bhagaban Das Maharaj and Ashimanandaji Maharaj will led the first jatra, which will kick off at Cuttack on Ocober 6 and it will traverse Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur before culminating at Jajpur on October 9. Similarly, Sachidanandaji Maharaj will led the second jatra, which will start from the Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri on October 7 and traverse Nayagarh, Khurda and Bhubaneswar. The third jatra will begin in front of the Taratarini Temple in Berhampur and will traverse Gajapati, Phulabani, Ganjam, Bhanjanagar before culminating at Paralkhemundi on October 10. Chaitnayaji Maharaj and Chinmayanandaji will led the third jatra. The fourth jatra will kick off at Ambika Temple in Baripada on October 6 led by Adityanandaji and it will move through Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Bhadrak and will end at Balasore on October 8. The last and fifth jatra will begin at Radhakrishan Temple in Angul on October 8 and Krupalnandaji will led the jatra and it will traverse Dhenkanal, Angul and Athagarh.

Rama setu, Affidavit and Secularism

Article by Sri Dandapani Panda

VHP to conduct Ram Sethu Rakshya Padayaatras from Sept 27

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): After conducting nationwide chalka jam over Ram Sethu, VHP on Saturday announced to conduct Ram Sethu Rakshya Padayaatras and public awarness rallies over Ram Sethu. Announcing this here at a news conference, VHP International General Secretary Prabin Bhai Togadia said that as part of the revised campaign over Ram Sethu, padayaatras, rallies, public awareness campaign, pujas for Ramayan, Rameshwaram Shivlingam and Ram Sethu will be conducted from across the country from September 27 to October 10. He said that besides, one crorer Hindus will take oath to fight against the evil designs that has been promoted jointly by the Congress, DMK and the Communists to demolish the historic Ram Sethu. "VHP is appealing people of all caste, creed, faith and religion to participate in the padayaatras for the protection of Ram Sethu," Togadia said. "We would not stop our campaign over the issue, till the Centre scarped the project," he made it clear.

Criminal cases to be filed against Karunanidhi from Monday, warns Togadia

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Saturday announced to file criminal cases under section 295 of the IPC against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK Chief Karunanidhi for misinterpreting the Valmiki's Ramayan while saying Lord Ram as a drunkard according to Valmiki. Speaking at news conference here, VHP International General Secretary Prabin Bhai Togadia said that VHP activists, Sadhus and Hindus across the country will file criminal cases against the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi for misinterpreting Valmiki's Ramayan while saying Lord Ram was a drunkard from Monday onwards. "If Karunanidhi wants a public debate over the existence of Lord Ram and Valmiki's Ramayan, then he should come to Ayodhya or Kashi and faced the Sadhus and Sathas of the country, why he challenging political leaders for debate," Togadia directly referring to Karunanidhi's challenge to Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha LK Advani for a debate on Lord Ram said. "Karunanidhi misinterpreted the Ramayan and his anti-Hindu stand, will be strongly replied, if the Centre did not scrape the project soon," Togadia warned. VHP always ready for a debate over the issue, but those who are in favour of debate should come to a proper platform instead politicising the issue, Togadia asserted. The Centre should immediately scrape the project and realise its mistakes committed during the file of the defamatory affidavit in the Supreme Court, he demanded.

"Karunanidhi is a history cheater and his double standard on Lord Ram's existence was evident from the fact that, in 1972, he admitted Lord's existence in Tamil Nadu District gazetteers," Togadia releasing a copy of the Gazetteers said. Accusing Congress Party Chief Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for their pro-US and anti-Hindu lobby, Togadia said "VHP is preparing itself for a greater movement over the issue and unless and until, the project get scrapped, nationwide agitation will continue," Four lakh fishermen along the Tamil Nadu Coast would be severely affected and they would lose their livelihood while thorium deposits along the Coast will also be affected, Togadia, who is here to attend an All-India Hindu Religious Conference underway at Puri argued. Locals, who live and work amid scores of Hindu temples across Rameswaram, believe it was blasphemous on part of the Government to question mythology, he claimed. "The Central Government has deliberately created circumstances that the Ram Setu be demolished. All Hindus are opposing this," he said.

Charging the CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat, who is backing Karunanidhi over Ram Sethu, Tagodia said the communists are now become a party of the international conspiracy that has been going on against India's economic progress. What they (the Communists) learned about Lord Ram, now backing Karunanidhi? He asked. "If no Ram, then why other political parties in Tamil Nadu including the main Opposition AIDMK is opposing the controversial statement over Lord Ram," he argued. Asked whether VHP will allow BJP to make a political issue, if the country faces a mid-term poll, Togadia said that matter is purely faith, belief and culture and VHP in fact not in favour of politicisation of the issue.

Centre’s affidavit over Rama Sethu unfortunate, says RSS

Bhubaneswar: Coming down heavily on the Congress led UPA Government for its affidavit over the controversial Rama Sethu issue, State unit of RSS on Thursday once again warned the Government for a massive statewide campaign. "Centre affidavit was unfortunate and all Hindus across the globe will reply to it," RSS said in a statement here. It warned the Centre that it would launch a Statewide movement if it did not immediately withdraw its affidavit that there was no historical evidence to prove Lord Ram's existence. RSS however accused the Central Government of insulting the Constitution, which it said contained images of Ram, Sita and Hanuman." The Government has made an assault on Hindu sentiments, which cannot be tolerated at any cost," RSS statement said.  " The Government has set in motion the process of questioning religious beliefs. We will launch a State wide movement if it does not withdraw immediately this blasphemous submission questioning the very existence of Lord Ram," RSS State spokesman Simanchal Khatua said.

VHP once again warned Centre over Rama Sethu - Chalk jam hits rail, roads in Orissa

bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): Thousands of activists of the RSS, VHP, BJP, Bajrang Dal and AVBP blocked roads and stopped trains in several places across State to protest the Sethusamudram canal project that they say will destroy a 'bridge' held sacred in Hindu mythology. Activists blocked roads across the State from 8am to 11 am and the strike has been successful. Train service also affected due to chalk jam. BJP State president Suresh Pujari led protests in Bhubaneswar while hundreds of activists led by BJP MP Jual Oram staged protests at the steel city of Rourkela. Similarly, VHP State secretary Gouri Prasad Rath led the chalk jam at Balasore and VHP State organising secretary Tanmaya Mohapatra led the protests in Cuttack followed by Golekha Chandra Behera led the protests in Kendrapara. Roads were blocked in at least a dozen places in Bhubaneswar, leading to traffic jams. Activists also stopped several trains in Jatani, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Khurda, Puri, Ganjam, Berhampur, Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Dhenkanal, Angul, Sambalpur and in the State capital, apart from other towns. The VHP claims that the canal project, that will cut shipping time in the southern tip of India, would damage the Adam's Bridge or Ram Sethu, that many Hindus claim was built by the monkey brigade to enable Ram to reach then Lanka (now Sri Lanka) to rescue his wife Sita from the clutches of demon king Ravana. It also claimed that US space agency NASA had the bridge in the Indian Ocean carbon dated as being 1.7 million years old. However, NASA and Indian scientists say the 'bridge' was nothing but a natural string of underwater coral reefs. Meanwhile, just two days after the down to dusk bandh called by the Congress led Opposition Parties, commuters in the twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack had a harrowing time reaching their destinations due to road blockade at various places by VHP activists as part of their nationwide protest against Government's decision to go ahead with the Sethu Samudram project.  Vehicular movement across the city was affected with traffic snarls witnessed at Vani Vihar Square, Master Canteen Square, Khandgiri Square, Samanrapur Square and Rasulgarh Square, Kalpana Square. Police personnel in large numbers were deployed on streets to regulate the traffic. A number of activists, including some local leaders of VHP and BJP were also detained.

Sri Rama setu Surakshaya manch vows to stop Sethusamudram project.

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO - 8/9): State unit of SriRama setu Surakhya manch on Saturday announced to carry out a massive agitation in the State in protest against the Sethusamudram Shipping Project.The  Surakshaya Manch however warned the Union Government against playing with the sentiments of Hindus and demanded immediate scrapping of the Sethusamudram project, which it said would damage Ramsethu in the Palk Straits. The belief that the Ramsethu was the bridge built by Vanar Sena as mentioned in the Ramayana was unquestionable. It is the belief of crores of Hindus, and the Centre should not hurt them. The Government should change the alignment of the project to save Ramsethu, State coordinator of Rama setu Suraksya manch, Gouri Prasad Rath said at a news conference here. Ramsethu was not just an issue of religious faith, it also had security value for the nation as it had a rich reserve of Thorium, used as a nuclear fuel, and also a natural barrier against disasters like tsunami, he said. The future course of agitation would be chalked out later if the Centre failed to respect the Hindu sentiments, he said. He further said that Puri Seer Jagadguru Nischalananda Saraswati has already given his morale support to the three-hour long Chakka Jam called on September 12 from 8am to 11am.

RRSPM calls Chalka Jam on Sept 12

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO - 31/8): State chapter of the Rameswaram Ram Sethu Protection Movement on Friday warned of a series of agitations if the Centre did not go in for an alternative alignment in Palk Straits. RRSPM has called a three-hour long chalka jam through out the State as part of its nation wide campaign to save the mythological Rama Sethu. "Some people may be atheists. But there are crores of people who believe in God. A democratic Government should respect the sentiments of majority people," RRSPM State coordinator Gouri Prasad Rath said on Friday. Stressing that the existence of Ram Sethu was not a figment of imagination and there were references about it in ancient literature and epics, he said the bridge also stood as a symbol of unity and integrity of the country. Members of RSS, VHP, BJP, Bajrang Dal and ABVP will join the chalka jam, Rath said. Pointing out that all Hindu religious leaders, including the Shankaracharyas, had unsuccessfully appealed to the Centre to stop the destruction of Ram Sethu, Rath said, "the voice of religious minorities is respected in the country. But, the voice of majority Hindus goes unheeded." He said the Movement would strive to create social awareness on the issue, besides waging a legal battle to protect the Ram Sethu. "If the Centre does not accede to our request, the struggle will be intensified to an unprecedented scale," he warned.

Agitation to protect Rama Sethu

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO): Stepping up its campaign against the Sethusamudram shipping canal project that would demolish the Rama Sethu, considered to be the mythical bridge of Lord Rama, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has announced to launch a State wide agitation to protest the move of the Centre.

Justice (Retd) M Papanna of the Orissa High Court, academician Dr Ratnakar Chaini and Ramesh Chandra Tripathy, Dr Brahmananda Acharya, advocate Bipin Behari Rath have formed a Rameshwaram Rama Sethu Raksha Manch to spearhead the agitation.

Addressing a meeting in this connection, Justice Papanna said the Sethu that links Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka is not only an integral part of the Purana, it is also a symbol of India's glory and respect. Billions of people of the country and the world have intrinsic faith on the structure and every person has the obligation to stand up for protection of the Sethu from demolition, he added.

Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati has also taken up the issue of demolition of the Sethu urging people to thwart the attempts.

Uma supporters demonstrate against Setu demolition move

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO - 23/8): Workers of the State Bharatiya Janshakti on Wednesday staged a demonstration in front of the Raj Bhawan and strongly criticised the Centre's move for its proposal for demolition of the Rama Setu under the Setu Samudram project.

 

They demanded an unconditional withdrawal of the arrest warrant against their national president Uma Bharati in the wake of her stout opposition to the proposal.

 

The party's State president Arabinda Dhali said, "The Rama Setu is a classic symbol of the Indian heritage and should be declared as a wonder of world as the master piece of mythic period built by Sri Rama approximately 17,50,000 years ago. The Centre's move to demolish it should be battled out at any cost." A Tamil Nadu court has issued an arrest warrant against the party supremo when she came down heavily on the Central Government warning it to restrain from the move as it would possibly hurt the sentiments of the millions of Hindus in the country, Dhali said.

 

Later, the party workers submitted a memorandum to the President through the Governor.

Leaders unite to protect Sriram Setu

Berhampur (VISAKEO): The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and the Sriram Setu Surakhya Manch (SSSM) were of a unanimous view to save the Sriram Setu at Rameshwaram at a meeting held at the old Bus Stand on Sunday. Expressing fear that the demolition of the Setu would not only hurt the sentiments of the Hindus but also deprive thousands of fishermen of their livelihood and adversely affect thetion in future if the Government did not drop such a plan. Speaking on this occasion, president of the Manch Dharmaraj Sahu accused the UPA Government for its obstinacy to demolish the old Setu with a view to facilitate trade. He termed it as an out and out conspiracy against the Hindus. Ramakanta Rath of the Bajrang Dal said that it was a conspiracy at the international level to wipe out the Setu. Narasingh Choudhary of the VHP said that the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre was taking anti-Hindu decisions. He alleged that the UPA Government was embarking on such a plan at the instance of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Later, in a memorandum to the RDC they urged the Government to refrain from such a plan.
VHP observes fast over Ram Setu
 Bhubaneswar(Visakeo)Stepping up their protest against the demolition of Ram Setu (Adam's Bridge) as part of the Sethusamudaram Shipping Canal Project, VHP members on Sunday observed fast at Raj Mahal Square here. Later, a delegation submitted a memorandum to Khurda ADM, which was addressed to the Prime Minister. Several sadhus, activists of RSS and ABVP also participated in the dawn-to-dusk fast, singing bhajans. "The Centre and State have hidden intentions in implementing the project," they alleged. They claimed that destruction of the bridge would increase the tsunami threat to Tamil Nadu and Kerala, besides threatening India's security. NK Debata, Gouri Prasad Rath, Raghunath Pati and Pramod Das were among those present during the fast.

Puri Seer urges Hindu solidarity for Rama Sethu

Puri (VISAKEO): The Sankaracharya of Gobardhan Peeth, Puri Swami Nischalananda Saraswati has urged the Hindus to show solidarity with the Dharmacharyas and religious gurus to protect the Rama Sethu from destruction. The Sankaracharya appealed to the followers of Hindu faith to enable the religious leaders and acharyas to stage a Parliament Gherao agitation to exert pressure on the Government to desist them from proceeding with the Setu Samudram canal project.
The acharya reiterated his stand on the Rama Sethu at a Press conference on Saturday describing it as sacred for all Hindus. Hanuman, Nala and Neela, the followers of God Rama had constructed the 48km sethu (bridge) in Tretaya Yuga during the accession of Sri Lanka. It remained as a means of transport between the two countries till 1480 AD. The seer quoting a report of NASA said it as a man made structure built 1.75 million years ago after analysing the aerial photographs taken from the space. There was volumes in our religious texts over construction of the Rama Sethu, its consecration and sacredness the acharya said.          
                  
The Shankarachrya in strong words condemned the Union Government who was bent upon to destroy our religious heritage in the name of promotion of trade, tourism and commerce. The Sankaracharya demanded that the Government should declare it as a national heritage monument and scrap the Setusamudram canal project as millions of Hindus are religiously and emotionally attached to the Rama Sethu.        
                  
If the project was allowed to proceed a great religious history and a heritage monument of Hindu faith would be lost for ever. He described it as a treasure house of rare flora and fauna. There was huge deposit of Thorium, a radio active element. Its ridges repel high tides during Tsunami the seer, said.

RSS plans massive agitation against Setu Samudram Canal project

Bhubaneswar (VISAKEO - 8/3) With the RSS is planning to conduct mass agitation rally from March 27(on Ram Navami to April 14(Ambedkar jayanti) here in the State while opposing the Sethu Samudram Shipping Canal Project of Tamilnadu, Puri Seer Jagadguru Sankaracharya Swami Nischalalnda Saraswati has written a letter to the President APJ Abdul Kalam urging to intervene and stop the project work, which will connect from Rameswaram (Tamilnadu) to Sri Lanka, sources said on Thursday. Besides, he has also written to Vice President, Prime Minister, Supreme Court, Planning Commission, Leader of the Opposition and to the Indian Parliament to stop the project keeping the interest of the countrymen Puri Seer has stated in his letter that 30 kilometer long sinking Rameshwar Setubandh that lies to Sri Lanka in the sea ways from Rameshwaram, it is not only the point of faith, culture, trust and ancient artistic excellence but the canal project might shutdown the historical background of the place, Sankaracharya pointed out in his letter to President adding Setubandh was made by Lord Rama in Tretaya Yuga. “All efforts to destroy the Setubandh will be inhuman, ungodly, indecent and unlawful work and the Centre’s destructive plan of Setubandha would hurt the sentiments of the Hindus residing in the country and Sadhus across the country would jointly raised their voice against it,” the letter said. Puri Seer along with Dwarika Peeth and Badrinath Dham Jagadguru Swami Swarupananda Saraswati Swami Bharati Tirtha of Srungeri Peeth, Gopalnanda Ji Maharaj of Bharatamata Mandir (Haridwar) and several other Hindu religious leaders would take up the issue countrywide, sources said here on Thursday. Meanwhile, the agitation would gather further momentum as organizations like Peeth Parishad, Adiya Bahini,, RSS, VHP, Bajarang Dal have extended their support to the Puri Seer’s campaign against the canal project. However, RSS sources said here that the agitation will be carried out at corner of the State to mobilize public opinion against the project.