Ram Sethu: BJP takes potshot at PM, Sonia

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday took potshots at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for participating in Dussehra celebrations in New Delhi and sought to know whether they believed in the existence of Ram, which the government had earlier disputed.

The saffron party also slammed Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu for announcing that the Sethu Samudram project will be completed in November next year saying his statement on the Vijayadashmi day was a 'deliberate attempt' to hurt the sentiments of crore of believers.

"What were they celebrating. If they believe in Ravan Dahan (burning the effigy of Ravana) then they should believe in Ram also. How can Ravan Dahan be possible if there is no Ram," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar sought to know from prime minister and the UPA chairperson.

He said if the prime minister and Congress president believed in the existence of Lord Ram and the epic Ramayana, then the UPA government should 'unequivocally' announce that Ram Sethu will not be destroyed as it is a matter of religious faith.

Attacking Baalu, Javadekar said he 'deliberately' chose Vijayadashmi day to hurt the religious faith of millions of people.

"The prime minister was burning the effigy of Ravan while his minister was talking about destroying Ram Sethu," he added.

"He (Baalu) has also tried to influence the committee formed by the government and pre-judge its decision and made fun of the Supreme Court, which has stopped dredging work of the Sethu Samudram project," he added.