Tanveer Jafri: Setu Samudram & Politics

A fter giving air to the issue Ram Janm Bhumi-Babri Masjid at Ayodhya & after demolishing that place forcibly on December 6, 1992, the rightist organizations got the power to rule in India once. Now again the parties known as rightist organizations are trying to give a colourful feeling to the issue of Setu Samudram. After being defeated in 2004 as the Indian voters didn't favour Ram Mandir issue, the right organization didn't have any sensitive issue to win the public opinion. Now the Bhartiya Janta Party & its associates, who were in search of a sensitive issue got a chance to raise the Setu Samudram issue. Surprisingly today these rightist parties who are opposing the India's UPA government of the centre & trying to prove it as anti-Hindu by opposing Setu Samudram project. In reality, the Bhartiya Janta Party along with the NDA was in power in the previous years, this project was recommended under the term of then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. At that time these devotees of Lord Ram didn't raise a finger against it when their party was an associate of the government.

The sea that looks like a link bridge between India & Sri Lanka is 48 kilometers long & its geographical construction is somewhat strange. A lot of it is under deep water whereas some parts are under about 3 feet to 10 feet water. Some part is open where a person can have a walk. The scientists are of the view that this 48 kilometers long structure that looks like a link bridge is not a manmade structure. It is only a mixture of limestone & sand. It has come into existence by movements of the sea water. Under the Setu Samudram project, 300 meters wide & twelve meter deep part of it is to be cleared. The aim of this Setu Samudram project is to cut short the present long route of the ships that move between the East & West Coast of India. After completion of this project, the ship will be able to save 36 hours in their voyage time & their voyage will be 780 kilometers less. After the completion of this project, the distance will become short & fare will be less. The cargo will also reach the destination earlier by saving 36 hours. For these reasons the government is linking this project with the economic development of the country.

It is not so that all the results of this project are positive. Some of its results may be negative, as is being stated. It is said that if the depth of sea is increased at this place, there may be high tides in the sea & sea coasts may gradually erode. It is also feared that the fisher men will be in trouble in this area as the availability of the fishes in this area may decrease. Some experts are of the view that production of nuclear elements may be inversely affected. So some people are opposing this project because of its bad after effects. But Bhartiya Janta Party who previously gave recommendation for this project is at present opposing it only on the basis of sentiments. So these devotees of Lord Rama are of the view that this link bridge shouldn't be demolished because this is the bridge that was prepared by the Vanar Sena of Lord Rama. After crossing this bridge Lord Rama reached Lanka along with its army & got victory over Ravana. Now the question may arise why this project was cleared when there was rule of Vajpayee, if the faith of the people is so deep for this historical link bridge & the devotees don't want to harm this ancient bridge having so much religious & historical importance.

But the reference is that the archeological department of the Central government gave an affidavit in the Supreme Court in which it has denied the existence of Lord Rama & war between Rama & Ravana. This is strongly condemnable. In fact, the religious traditions of a religion can't be put on scientific arguments. Religions are completely based on faiths. These are so deeply based on faiths that blind faiths come out of it. The religious faith can't be confined in limits & it crosses all the limits & even it directly associates itself with the personal feelings of a person. So a person or an organization or a department has no right to hit the faith of a religion with its arguments Especially in South Asian countries it needs special care on it where political organizations are ready to wait for such issues so that they could have an issue to propagate.

Anyhow the Indian archeological department has suspended its two officials for submitting this objectionable affidavit. These officials were responsible for giving & preparing this controversial affidavit. But instead of finishing the issue, it is being strongly propagated. The persons & organizations who had already recommended this project, are now trying to catch the power through this Setu. In 2004, they were looking at the slogan 'India Shining' because of these projects & these organizations were making the people 'Feel Good.' But now when this project is being given a constructive form by the National Development Policy, these people are obstructing it.

Certainly nobody is allowed to hurt the religious feeling of others & nobody should be allowed. If anybody tries, he should be punished. But nobody should be allowed to take benefit by inciting the people for its selfish motives. Nobody should be allowed to make ill use of the religious feelings. Lord Rama can't be limited to a political party because he is worshipped by most of the Indians. It is giving a wrong direction to the politics by polarization of votes on the basis of inciting the religious feelings of the people. Now the need is to be watchful on the issue of Setu Samudram & beware of the people who are misguiding in the name of religion.

(About the Author)
Author Tanveer Jafri is a columnist based in India.He is related with hundreds of most popular daily news papers/portals in India and abroad. Jafri, Almost writes in the field of communal harmony, world peace, anti communalism, anti terrorism, national integration, national & international politics etc.He is a devoted social activist for world peace, unity, integrity & global brotherhood. Tanveer Jafri is also a member of Haryana Sahitya Academy & Haryana Urdu Academy (state govt. bodies in India). Thousands articles of the author have been published in different newspapers, websites & newsportals throughout the world. He is also a receipent of so many awards in the field of Communal Harmony & other social activities.
(Email : tanveerjafriamb@gmail.com )

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