Dr. Subramanian Swamy speaks at Toronto against terrorism

Dear Friends,

Dr. Subramanian Swamy will be visiting Toronto and will be addressing a public meeting at 7.00 P.M. on Tuesday the 11th November 2008 at Centennial College Student Centre AT Main event hall / Mezzanine941, Progress Ave, Toronto - ON M1G 3T8.

He will speak on the matters concerning the South Asian Diaspora.

Please attend.

Regards,
Krishna Sastri

Hindu worship, teerthasthanam, court perceptions

http://setubandha.blogspot.com/2008/04/hindu-worship-teerthasthanam-court.html

"Saguna Upasana and Nirguna Upasana. Upasana is of two kinds, viz., Pratika Upasana and Ahamgraha Upasana. 'Pratika' means a symbol. Pratika Upasana is Saguna Upasana. Ahamgraha Upasana is Nirguna Upasana or meditation on the formless and attributeless Akshara or transcendental Brahman. Meditation on idols, Saligram, pictures of Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, Lord Siva, Gayatri Devi is Pratika Upasana. The blue expansive sky, all-pervading ether, all-pervading light of the sun etc., are also 'Pratikas' for abstract meditation. Saguna Upasana is concrete meditation. Nirguna Upasana is abstract meditation… An object is used in the outer Puja such as an image (Pratima), a picture or an emblem such as Saligram in the case of Vishnu worship or Linga in the case of worship of Siva… Pratima (idol) is a substitute or symbol. The image in a temple, though it is made of stone, wood or metal, is precious for a devotee as it bears the mark of his Lord, as it stands for something which he holds holy and eternal… When you worship an image, you do not say, "This image has come from Jaipur. It was brought by Prabhu Singh. Its weight is 50 lbs. It is made of white marble. It has cost me Rs, 500/-."You superimpose all the attributes of the Lord on the image and pray, "O Antaryamin (Inner Ruler)!You are all-pervading; you are omnipotent, omniscient, all-merciful. You are the source for everything. You are self-existent. You are Sat-Chit-Ananda. You are eternal, unchanging. You are the Life of my life, Soul of my soul! Give me light and knowledge! Let me dwell in Thee for ever." When your devotion and meditation become intense and deep, you do not see the stone image. You behold the Lord only, who is chaitanya. Image worship is very necessary for beginners." The philosophy and significance of Idol worship by Swamy Sivananda (1960, pp. 2-3, 6).(Copy of the book is attached).

IDOL'S PROPERTIES:- The properties of an Hindu temple or an idol or debutter estate vests in idol itself, while it's possession and management vests in the shabait as manager of the debutter estate. Deoki Nandan v Muralidhar AIR 1955 SC 133.

IDOL IS JURISTIC PERSON:- When the property is given absolutely by a pious Hindu for the worship of an idol, the property vests in the idol itself as a juristic person. Kalamaka Devi v M.R.T.Nagji AIR 1970 SC 439, 441.

http://sbn-caselaw.blogspot.com/2007/05/case-laws-governing-religious-and.html

In Hindu law, a Hindu temple has legal personality in Tamil Nadu. Rama Setu is a Hindu temple. Rama Setu is part of Ramanathaswamy temple complex in Setubandha Rameshwaram.

"In Hindu law, a family idol has legal personality

(Pramatha Nath Mullick v Pradyumna Kumar Mullick (1925) LR 52 Ind App 245; see P W Duff, 'The personality of an idol'(1927) 3 CLJ 42).In Bumper Development Corporation v Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis [1991] 1 WLR 1362, expert evidence was accepted that a Hindu temple has legal personality in Tamil Nadu. For a proposal that natural environmental features should be given legal personality so that they can bring proceedings to prevent, or obtain compensation for, damage, see C D Stone, 'Should trees have standing?—Toward legal rights for natural objects' introduction (1972) 45S Cal L Rev 450 and '"Should trees have standing?"revisited:how far will law and morals

reach? A pluralist perspective'(1985) 59S Cal L Rev 1."

www.oup.com/uk/orc/bin/9780199210817/mayson_ch01.pdf

Bumper Development Corporation v. Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis [1991] 1 WLR 1362, [1991] 4 All ER 638 (CA), 245

The second 'contrary case' was a 1925 decision of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, England. This particular case originated in India and involved the legal status of an endowed Hindu idol. The idol in question had been endowed by a subsequently deceased man for family worship in a particular place. A guardian or custodian had been designated and this individual had decided to move the idol to another place of worship. An objection was made to this plan. The Privy Council decided that the case had not been properly argued in the High Court of Calcutta because the special interests of the idol and its female worshippers had not been independently represented. The judges ordered that the case be reheard. In their opinion, the idol was a distinct "juristic" or legal entity which had the power to sue and to be sued. The idol was not a mere moveable chattel; in decisions with respect to the idol, the will of the idol was to be respected. In the view of the Privy Council, it was "open to the idol acting through its guardian to conduct its worship in its own way, at its own place." The judges were not referring to the idol as having a human or supernatural personality, but to a legal personality whereby the "will" of the idol "seems to be that for legal purposes is whatever the law regards as such." The judges referred to "long-established authority founded upon the religious customs of the Hindus and the recognition thereof by Law" that an idol was a juristic entity. (Note also Bumper Development Corporation v. Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis, [1991] 4 All E.R. 638 in which the English Court of Appeal accepted that an "Indian Hindu temple [was] recognized as a legal person in Indian law, [and was] entitled to sue, through its representative, in an English court for the recovery of stolen property." )

http://www.lawsite.ca/WLSC/LegalPerson_w.htm

Prana Pratishtha Ceremony: its meaning

A Hindu Temple is a sacred place, endowed with divine energies and powers. At the heart of each temple lie the deities, to whom we bow and pray in worship. Why is it, though, that these statues, these "idols" are worshipped as God? How did they come to be infused with divine characteristics? The answer is the Prana Pratishtha ceremony.

People say that Hindus are idol worshippers. We are not. We are ideal worshippers. It is not the plaster and marble and stone we revere; rather it is the presence of God which has been transmitted into these otherwise lifeless statues. The rites and rituals of Prana Pratishtha are followed strictly according to the Agamic texts. Prior to installation, priests who have been well trained in vedic rituals, perform specific mantras and pujas which have been shown to endow an inanimate object with divine life and energy.

These mantras and rites begin with the simple man who sculpts the stone. He is not an ordinary artist. Rather, he is one who has been blessed with the ability to create a physical manifestation of God. He performs puja and prayer prior to and during the sculpting. He maintains, in his mind, the vision of the deity he is sculpting. He prays for this God to come to life in his statue. His work area looks more like a temple than an art studio. So, from the very first moment, the stone is treated with reverence and piety, preparing it to carry the force of God.

Then, when the murtis are finished and taken to the temple, the special Prana Pratishtha ceremony typically lasts for five days. During this time, numerous special rites and rituals are performed and mantras are chanted. It is after this complex set of sacred rituals that the murtis become infused with divine power and truly embody the God in whose manifest form they are created. At this point, they are no longer murtis. They are deities. After this, we no longer refer to the stone or other materials of which they are constructed. For, they have become sanctified and are now only a physical manifestation of aspects of the Supreme Godhead. They are no longer marble. They are now divine. "Whatever form of Me any devotee worships with faith, I come alive in that form." (Bhagavad Gita).

Some people may ask why we need deities, if God exists everywhere. It is very difficult for most people to envision the un-manifest, ever-present, all-pervading Supreme Being. It is easier for us to focus our attention and our love on an image of Him. It is easier to display love, affection and devotion to a physical deity than to a transcendent, omni-present existence. Additionally, through the Prana Pratishtha ceremony and through our own faith and piety, this image of Him truly comes alive and become Him. So, by worshipping His image with faith and love, we arrive at His holy feet.

In the Srimad Bhagavatum, Lord Krishna says, "Whenever one develops faith in Me – in My manifest form as the Deity or in any other of my manifestations – one should worship Me in that form. I exist within all created beings as well as separately in both My un-manifest and manifest forms. I am the Supreme Soul of all." (Canto ll, Chapter 27, Verse 48).

http://www.ihrf.com/publi/drops/drops-prana.htm

From: kanchiforum@gmail.com

Om Sri Gurubhyo Namaha
Jaya Jaya Sankara! Hara Hara Sankara!

115th Jayanthi Celebrations of H.H. Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Maha Swamigal on Saturday, May 24th 2008 at Bridgewater Temple Old Sannidhi Hall, NJ

Program

8:45A.M. Guru Vandanam, Swasti Vachanam, Sri Maha Ganapati Puja, Rudrabishekam to Holy Padukas

Ashtottara archana to Lord Shiva, Sri Kamakshi, & Sri Adi Sankara

Paduka Puja to the Holy Padukas of H.H. Sri Maha Swamiji & Archana to H.H. Sri Perivaa Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamiji

Mangala Arati

Offering of Holy Prasadams from Sri Matam

Lunch Prasadams

Due to Memorial Weekend, the program will start early and will try to finish early too.

Please take part in the following celebrations at Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation (SVBF), Stroudsburg, PA . and see how Maha Swamiji's desire of Adi Sankara Prathishtapana and Veda Gosham (by 175 Vedic scholars of all the four Vedas from all over India) come true! Detailed brochure is posted in this album.

July 12th to July 14th - Kumbabishekam of Sri Sharadamba Temple and Swarna Rathotsava in the evening of July 14th.

July 16th to July 20th Satachandi Mahayajna

July 16th to July 27th Atirudra Mahayajna

July 17th to July 27th Koti Kumkuma Archana

Please visit http://www.svbf.org for further details on parking, accommodation etc.

Please visit http://community.webshots.com/user/SVBFUSA for latest updates on the construction of the new temple

"RAMA SETU - Symbol of National Unity" a book very well written by

Dr. Subramanian Swamy was blessed at Sri Matam Brindavanam on the Holy Sri Rama Navami Day. This book was released in New Delhi by

H.H. Sri Dayananda Saraswathi Swamiji on April 20th with the Blessings of All Shankaracharyas (please see the link below for SriMukams), to Sri Ashok Singalji of VHP and to Sri Mohan Bagwatji of RSS.

Please visit the following links for additional information on Rama Setu.

http://www.kanchiforum.org/interesting/drss/RamaSetu_HH.pdf - Srimukams from all Shankaracharyas

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dgt9wtp9_9gnsk3hnx Points made at book release

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/563169532yIixnu - Rama Setu Book Release photos

Dr. Subramanian Swamy will be visiting across North America during this summer for book releasing functions in various states/cities. Lord Rama needed help from Anjaneya and his teammates to build Rama Setu. Now all the Shankaracharyas have blessed him and Hindu leaders have joined him.

Even squirrels helped Lord Rama. It is now the devotees' turn to help promote this book across the world. We are counting on your help in this regard in your neighborhood.

Please respond with your interest to kanchiforum@gmail.com for further information.

Next Event: Please mark your calendar for August 2nd 2008 - 74th Jayanthi Celebrations of H.H. Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamiji in Bridgewater Temple, NJ.

Liberation of Hindu temples from govt control, tyranny

By: V Sundaram

Ahistoric All India Conference of Hindu Acharyas convened by Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha was held in the second week of February 2008 in State of Karnataka.

I view this Conference as a landmark event in the history of the heroic struggle of the battered and shattered Hindus of India who have been constitutionally fighting for their fundamental rights against the Islam-embracing, Christianity-coveting and Hindu-hating Government in India at all levels after our independence on 15th August 1947. Freedom with effect from that date has meant total freedom only for the Muslims and Christians of India and enslavement (in all religious and other vital secular matters) for the majority Hindus of India. Keeping this general background of State enforced slavery of the Hindus of India in view, the Acharya Sabha deliberated on a variety of topics of concern and interest to Hindus world-wide and in India in particular. A landmark statement was issued by Acharya Sabha after due deliberations. I am presenting below the most important excerpts from this Statement: ‘There is an increasing awareness among the Acharya leadership, of the seriousness of Hindu concerns and causes which are not addressed or insufficiently addressed by authorities and within Indian Society; some of the Acharyas have taken the initiative to project the grievances of Hinduism and Hindus in specific cases; many have lent their hand and support to collective action to highlight Hindu sensitivities and grievances. Awareness of unjust treatment of Hindus in the country under the flawed concept of secularism, has increased considerably overseas; such awareness is providing support to Hindu awareness among the masses in India. The State Government of Tamil Nadu has in callous disregard of Hindu sentiments pursued the ill-considered Sethusamudram project despite repeated representations from numerous experts and members of the public and also from the Acharya Sabha. The Government of India has also not been sensitive to the sacred resonance of ‘Rama Setu’ in the hearts of millions of Hindus all over the world, in persisting with the dredging of the narrow sea between Sri Lanka and India along an alignment that will damage the ‘Rama Setu’ irretrievably. The Acharya Sabha therefore fully supports the country-wide agitation in the matter, appreciates the scholarly documentation that was put together and the legal action mounted.’ ‘Several Hindu organizations in the country are becoming active and proactive in the field to counter adverse propaganda against Hindu society and Dharma, to oppose conversion and violence and to highlight Hindu sensitivities. More and more subtle attempts are underway outside the country to ‘appropriate’ Hindu philosophy and practices (such as Yoga, meditation, Sanskrit language and even sacred scriptures such as Bhagavad Gita), detaching them from their Hindu identity.’ A historic hindu libration conference in Karnataka Swamy Dyananda Dr.Subramanianswamy with Hindu Saraswathi and other Acharyas of Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha ‘Global warming resulting in the rapid receding of glaciers that feed the great Indian rivers, is a major threat to the world and particularly to India; sustained efforts are needed by several authorities to stem this adverse tide; the Hindu religious leadership must explain to the devotee masses how Hindu heritage strongly opposes reckless consumption and supports conservation of and respect to all forms of life.’ ‘Many ancient Mathas and temples in the country are in need of rejuvenation; these institutions have a major role in sustaining, teaching and strengthening Hindu Dharma. Mathatipatis must nominate their successors before it becomes too late to do so; otherwise another pretext would become available for Government to interfere in these Hindu institutions.’ ‘The Acharya Sabha re-pledges itself, in the aforementioned context to speak in a single united voice, act in a concerted manner to implement specific action plans drawn up from time to time, to strengthen Hindu Dharma and Society, and counter the problems and threats they face. In this context, a lot more needs to be done by individual Acharyas in their tours, Pravachans and among their vast devotee populations for raising Hindu self esteem; for resisting and preventing conversion by protagonists of other religions like Christianity and Islam; for refusing to be cowed down by threats of violence from any quarter and above all for taking recourse to legal action in specific cases aimed at protecting Hindu interests at large.’ Against the above general background, the Acharya Sabha took note the following aspects/issues of the problem being faced by the Hindus. 1) Temple Governance Matters. The Acharya Sabha took note of the fact that in Andhra Pradesh, a High Court Stay was in force on acquisition of temple lands for any purpose till writ petitions filed in that regard are finally disposed off; In Andhra Pradesh, certain amendments have been made to the Endowment Act, the primary purpose of which is to reduce the work load on the government department and to release very small temples with little or no income into the hands of individual Archakas for implementing daily Pujas with the help of govt. subvention/devotee offerings; in Karnataka, a High Powered Committee has submitted recommendations for a new Endowment Law after the High Court struck down the earlier ones on certain grounds not necessarily recognizing Hindu concerns in matters of temple governance; in Kerala, in a Writ filed with the help of the Acharya Sabha Trust, the High Court conceded a peripheral point regarding oath-administration, but did not favour any basic concern of Hindu Society as a whole in temple matters; in Madhya Pradesh a new Law is under consideration in respect of temples but it seeks to retains all control in a series of Government nominated bodies and in the hands of the government itself; in Himachal Pradesh and in Uttarakhand new governments have taken over; the alarming tendency in Governments, both Central and the State, to treat temples and places of sacred importance to Hindus as tourist attraction particularly for foreign tourism which detracts from their sacred value to Hindus; there have been many terrorist attacks on Hindu places of worship in the country, and the perpetrators have not been brought to book; and the need for local Hindu communities to gather experience in governing temples of different sizes and popularity among temple-worshipping devotees; and thereby for establishing the credibility of the claim that they are capable of managing their places of worship, efficiently, transparently and in an accountable manner. Keeping these factors in view the Acharya Sabha resolved as follows: That active recourse must be taken to concerted legal action and for this purpose legal cells may be identified and created in different States and at Delhi; That Legal Action Fund may be created in the Acharya Sabha Trust to which individual Acharyas may contribute liberally; That rapport may be established with the new governments in Himachal Pradesh and in Uttarakhand to explore the possibility of some salutary changes in the manner of temple governance; That correspondence may be initiated with the Chief Ministers and the Tourism Minister of Govt. of India on the need to safeguard the sanctity of temples and other places of sacred importance to Hindus; this may be followed up with visits on behalf of the Acharya Sabha, to the ministers; That representations may be addressed to appropriate authorities deploring increasing terrorist threats to and attacks on Hindu places of worship and demanding strong preventive and punitive action; That Temple Committees comprising local temple-worshipping communities should be set up as a part and parcel of Dharma Rakshana Samitis (decided at the last Conference at Mumbai) as a measure of education in transparent and accountable management, harmonious local participation in such management and demonstrable credibility for self-management of places of Hindu worship. Individual Acharyas are exhorted to undertake this exercise within their Sampradayas and area of Matha/Peetha influence. 2. Hindu ScriptureAcharya Sabha noted that unlike in other religious persuasions it is not possible to straitjacket a Hindu and Hinduism exclusively in any set of practices, rituals or taboos; Hinduism should not be viewed only through the prism of what is construed as 'religion’ by non-Hindus; various differing Sampradayas of ancient lineage with diverse interpretations and understandings of ancient scriptural teachings such as Vedas with all the Upanishads, Bhagawad Gita etc constitute Sanaatana Dharma( Hinduism) and are all integral to Hinduism; not-withstanding the foregoing it is necessary to compile a set of simple guiding principles with which modern youth, Ghar Vapasi families, and those outside Hindu Dharma, can obtain a basic understanding of Hinduism; and Bhagawad Gita contains a comprehensive code of Dharma, which could be followed by all human beings for a morally upright, happy and productive life. Taking note of the above facts Acharya Sabha has unanimously resolved that a compilation may be prepared as a practical guide to distinguish a Hindu and Hinduism, with the understanding that it should be taken only as a starting point for a deeper study by a serious seeker, of several authentic interpretations and of the chosen Sampradaya; and the idea that Bhagawad Gita merits acceptance as the National Book of India, is worthy of promotion. Keeping in view all the aspects of Temple Control, Temple Regulation and Temple Governance and the paramount Hindu public need to permanently free the Hindu temples from the stranglehold of Government, Dr Subramanian Swamy has issued this clarion call: ‘The Union Government must enter into an urgent consultation with the apex Hindu body of sadhus, namely the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha (HDAS) convened by Swami Dayananda Sarasvati, to substantially amend the Hindu Religious Endowments and Charitable Trust Act (1951) to bring it in conformity with Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution. At present the Act provides for total and suffocating control of Hindu temples in the country by the Government at the Centre and States, while exempting Mosques and Churches completely even from Government oversight supervision. This is highly discriminatory against the Hindus who are 83 per cent of India’s population, and thus violates Article 14, 25 and 26 of the Constitution.’

FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT, JANATHA PARTY

16.02.2008
PRESS RELEASE

The Union Government must enter into an urgent consultation with the apex Hindu body of sadhus, namely the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha (HDAS) convened by Swami Dayananda Sarasvati, to substantially amend the Hindu Religious Endowments and Charitable Trust Act (1951) to bring it in conformity with Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution. At present the Act provides for total and suffocating control of Hindu temples in the country by the Government at the Centre and States, while exempting Mosques and Churches completely even from Government oversight supervision. This is highly discriminatory against the Hindus who are 83% of India’s population, and thus violates Article 14, 25 and 26 of the Constitution.

At recent conclave viz. the Third Conference of the HDAS held in the Adi Chunchanagiri Ashram in Mandya District of Karnataka (February 9-11, 2008), my invited paper on “Temple Governance” was discussed, and the HDAS adopted a unanimous Resolution on the subject. Armed with this Resolution, I met the AP Chief Minister Mr.Rajshekhar Reddy yesterday in Hyderabad with a delegation of the AP Hindu Devalaya Parirakshana Samiti, and urged the CM to further amend the AP Hindu Religious Endowment and Charitable Trusts Act (1987) thereby totally divest the governance of AP temples from the State Government control. The CM had last year got amended Section 152 (1) of the Act to vest the governance of temples with a Dharmika Parishad, but retained the power to nominate Parishad members entirely from and by the Government.

I therefore demanded of the CM that the power to nominate the Parishad be instead handed over to the HDAS since this body consists of the senior most sadhus, such as all the Shankaracharyas, Mahamandelswars and Peedapathis of institutions older than 200 years (hence qualified to be called Acharyas).

The Karnataka High Court has already struck down that State’s Act and an appeal is pending in the Supreme Court. Following the observations of the Supreme Court, the Karnataka Government had appointed Dr.Rama Jois Committee to advise on the necessary amendments to obviate the scrapping of the Act as a whole. This committee in its Report to Government too has recommended that the temple governance responsibility be transferred to a committee of Hindu acharyas.

I hope therefore the AP CM will not force me to litigate on the matter and will voluntarily accept this reasonable demand of the Hindus.

(SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY)

PRESS RELEASE

26.01.2008


The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Mr.Karunanidhi should stop wailing about the SethuSamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP) at every public function pleading with the Centre to implement the project expeditiously ignoring the objections of others.

The SSCP is however now “clinically dead” and is surviving only on the oxygen of the rhetoric of Mr.Karunanidhi. Only formal cremation and final rites of the project now remains. Mr.Karunanidhi should realize that like Ravana, he too has been defeated by Lord Rama.

Instead of grieving for the dead project, Mr.Karunanidhi should, for the rapid development of the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu ask the Centre should build double broad gauge railway lines and a six lane National High connecting Kanyakumari to Kolkata along the coast. The Mannar Bay should be developed as a Marine Economic Zone, and as an export container port, while an international airport should be constructed in Tuticorin.

Therefore Mr.Karunanidhi should learn from the Bhagwat Gita and think positively about the future, instead of the dead past.

(SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY)

Rajnath: UPA is playing with fire

Reacting to the TIMES NOW story on the draft Cabinet note by the Shipping ministry terming Rama Sethu as a natural formation, BJP President Rajnath Singh has reacted strongly saying that the bridge was buit by Lord Rama is a matter of faith and the BJP will give the Centre a fitting reply after the former submits its affidavit to the Supreme Court.

“I believe questions of faith and belief cannot be answered with history and science. We are also waiting to see what kind of an affidavit the Government files in the Supreme Court. We will react only after that,” said Singh today (January 18).

Singh told TIMES NOW off the record however that the UPA was ‘playing with fire’ and would be engulfed by its heat if it chose to stoke the religious passions of the people. He said the Rama Sethu was a matter of faith and non negotiable, and any attempt to classify it as manmade which would entail the UPA dredging it, or cut through it, would not be allowed. The BJP will await the text of the affidavit before giving a fitting reply, added Singh.

Will SC do a jallikattu for Rama Setu?

http://kalyan98.wordpress.com/2008/01/16/will-sc-do-a-jallikattu-for-rama-setu/

Madras HC judgement of 19 June 2007 on Rama Setu referred to hurting sentiments of a community as a cognizable offence under Section 295 of IPC. Former Supreme Court Justices Thomas and Krishna Iyer have eloquently argued that sentiments of Hindus should be respected and Rama Setu should be protected. Justice Krishna Iyer went on to say that no patriotic Indian can support the Setu project

Well, there are over 8000 pages of scientific evidence submitted to the courts explaining how Setu project is a disaster and why Rama Setu should be protected.

Will the Hon'ble Supreme Court do a jallikattu for Rama Setu?

We are beholden to Dr. Subramanian Swamy for bringing the decision on Jallikattu to the notice of the 3-judge bench hearing the Rama Setu issue on 16 Jan. 2008 when the Centre sought 2 weeks' time for submitting their long over-due affidavit. It is heartening to note that the Bench responded with good humour to this impassioned but correct remark of Dr. Swamy.

Is the Centre listening? Is the Committee of Secretaries who indulge in selective leaks to the media listening?

Thanks to Shri V. Sundaram for bringing out the imperative of uniform and consistent judicial standards for judging sentiments of common people.

Dr.Kalyananraman

What makes SC play Jallikattu with Hindus

V SUNDARAM | Wed, 16 Jan, 2008 , 02:19 PM

.The Supreme Court of India has been consistently inconsistent on vital issues affecting the long cherished hopes, emotions, feelings, sentiments and sensibilities of the common people of India. Yesterday the Supreme Court reversed the ban it had imposed on Jallikattu in the Southern Districts of Tamil Nadu which it had imposed through an order on 11 January, 2008. This has been widely welcomed by the people of Tamil Nadu.

The Supreme Court issued the ban order on 11 January, 2008 terming it as barbaric and inhuman as bulls were tortured, administered chilli powder and local brew to make them charge in an enraged manner. Soon after this ban order was announced, there was a visible public uproar in Southern Tamil Nadu. The public consternation arose because of the public perception that the Supreme Court of India was trying to crush the age-old religious feelings and sentiments of the people. Thousands of them were determined to defy the ban order of the Supreme Court and the public slogan was "Ignore the Supreme Court order ! Come out into the open and participate in Jallikattu at any cost, without any fear. Hold fast to your Jallikattu convictions !" Many people in the rural areas of Madurai, Dindugal, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli Districts considered the Supreme Court's peremptory ban on Jallikattu as a direct religious and cultural attack on the Hindus of Tamil Nadu.

Surprisingly enough, the Government of Tamil Nadu came out with the argument that the ban on the 600 years old traditional event of Jallikattu would hurt peoples' religious feelings and sentiments. Referring to many intelligence reports, Government of Tamil Nadu stated "in most villages, the people have decided to defy the Supreme Court order and to go ahead with the celebration of Jallikattu as usual........This situation could create a major law and order problem in many places during the Pongal festival". Thus two basic issues were raised by the Government of Tamil Nadu for getting the earlier ban order revoked by the Supreme Court. They are : a) religious feelings of the people would get hurt. b) There will be a breakdown of law and order because the people are determined to defy the orders of the Supreme Court.

It is understood that the Supreme Court put two relevant and embarrassing questions to the Counsel appearing for Tamil Nadu Government : 1. Why is the Tamil Nadu Government invoking religious sentiments in this Jallikattu case ?. 2. What would be their stand in the Rama Sethu case pending before the Supreme Court ?

The Hindus of India in absolute majority expect the Supreme Court of India not to function as the fountainhead of religious and political discrimination at the apex level. When Dayananda Saraswathy, several other Madadhipathis and may others filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court of India in August 2006, seeking a ban on the demolition of more than 1.7 million years old Rama Sethu ( even according to NASA report ), the Supreme Court rejected it summarily. Now on a petition filed by Tamil Nadu Government for removing a ban on Jallikattu on the ground that it is an event which has been going on in Tamil Nadu for over 400 years and that a ban on it would hurt the religious feelings of the people, the Supreme Court has reversed its order of January 11, 2008 in just 5 days. If the religious feelings of the people of Tamil Nadu can get hurt by a ban on Jallikattu, the Supreme Court should not fail to take note of the fact that the deliberate attempt of UPA Government to destroy the timeless Rama Sethu bridge in Rameswaram will equally hurt ( if not more ! ) the religious feelings of nearly 900 millions of Hindus in India and also of millions of Hindus outside India in all the other parts of the world. Any court of law should be able to distinguish between Jallikattu which only has a local significance in Tamil Nadu and Rama Sethu which is of national and international significance.

If the Government of Tamil Nadu is concerned about the breakdown of law and order following the Supreme Court's ban on Jallikattu, it should not also ignore the fact that if the might of the State is deployed for the planned destruction of Rama Sethu, which has been in existence for centuries, all the Hindus of India would not hesitate to unite in order to take the matter to the streets for asserting and claiming their age old Hindu rights regarding Rama Sethu. In that event, there will be a greater breakdown of law and order not only in Tamil Nadu but throughout the nation.

I can do no better than conclude in the words of Anjana Suthan :

"The 'Bull' (Rishabam in Sanskrit & Kaalai in Tamil) is worshipped as 'Nandhi' Bhagwan by the Hindus. The Nandhi Bhagwan has exposed the hypocrisy of the Tamil Nadu government and the duplicity of Dravidianism through the 'Jalli Kattu' controversy. The rationalist Tamil Nadu government headed by an Atheist Chief Minister, which questioned the truth of Ramayana, historicity of Lord Rama and existence of thousands of years old Rama Sethu in the ongoing SSCP controversy, had shamelessly taken shelter under 'Hindu Religion' while arguing its case for the conduction of Jalli Kattu. While the 'Bull fight' has only cultural tradition and not any religiousness attached to it, the state government had presented to the Apex Court that, the Bull fight organized during the Pongal festival is an ancient traditional sports more than 400 years old and that the stopping of such a sport would hurt the 'religious' sentiments of the people. The government had requested the SC to lift the stay on the above grounds and the Supreme Court had obliged only after laying certain conditions such as, the organizers must obtain permission from the district Collector, registration must be made, Animal Husbandry officials must inspect the Bulls, participants must be registered, Medical facilities & presence of Veterinary teams must be ensured, the event must come under the observation of Animal Welfare Board Members and the event must be video graphed by government media like Doordarshan. The stay was lifted only late in the afternoon yesterday, but surprisingly the event is 'on' today itself in Alanganallur. One wonders how the District Administration could ensure all the above guidelines annexed by the SC within 24 hrs!..... In the process, the Supreme Court also stands totally exposed! The Supreme Court, which delayed to the maximum possible extent to grant a stay on the destruction of Sacred Rama Sethu, when arguments were made and hell of a lot of Proofs & authentic documents were submitted on Religious grounds, had yielded to the Atheist state government in just one sitting, on the same religious grounds. What an irony!"

(The writer is a retired IAS officer)
e-mail the writer at
vsundaram@newstodaynet.com

Nursery rhyme of an experts’ committee

Friday, 11 January, 2008 , 03:20 PM

.

At last, the Committee of Experts, politically nominated by T R Baalu, has submitted its report saying that the Ramar Sethu (Ramar Paalam) is not man-made. In this context, I am only reminded of the following hilarious and popular nursery rhyme which I learnt in my Ist standard. Here is the rhyme which speaks for itself. Rub-a-dub-dub Three men in a tub; And who do you think they be? The butcher, the baker, The candlestick maker; All scrubbing their way out to sea!

.

The origin of this rhyme seems to be from an old English side-show attraction including three maids in a tub. The rhyme depicts the scurrilous behaviour of some members of a group lacking self-control. The Members of the Committee of Experts have behaved like those ‘Rub-a-dub-dub three men in a tub’ Immediately after the Committee of Experts with Dr Ramachandran, Vice- Chancellor, University of Madras, as chairman was appointed by the government of India, in these columns in October 2007, I had observed as follows: under the headline: SSCP VS RAMA SETHU: THE GAME OF SINISTER PAWN BROKERS, there is enough documentary evidence to show that Dr Ramachandran is a biased and prejudiced person who does not seem to have even ordinary belief, much less faith, in the processes of equity and natural justice. He has already gone on record several times publicly espousing the government’s stand on the existence of the Rama Sethu and on the viability of the said project. Hence, unless he has undergone an opinion change and now has an open mind, the committee’s deliberations would be vitiated by pre-judgemental bias of the chairperson, which under settled law would negate any claim of the committee of having reached a conclusion after fairly and impartially considering all objections and suggestions. In the same article in October 2007, I had even then observed that having spoken to the press several times that the Rama Sethu is not a ‘man-made structure’ and that it is a natural formation, Dr Ramachandran can not be expected to take a different view on the subject in his new capacity as chairman of this committee. On the deplorable want of procedural probity and decorum on the part of Dr Ramachandran, I had concluded as follows: Any other self-respecting man placed in a similar situation would have rescued himself with courage and conviction declaring that justice should not only be done but seem to be done. I had also correctly foreseen in advance when I referred to that committee as ‘Sham Committee of Eminent Persons’ and clearly stated that it does not require extraordinary crystal gazing powers to appreciate the contents of the conclusions and recommendations that ‘Their Eminences Committee’ will be submitting. It’s a foregone conclusion. It will be a ‘command performance’ in pursuance of ‘THEIR MASTER’S VOICE’!! (Sonia, Ambika Soni, T R Baalu and Karunanidhi). As I had correctly anticipated and forecast in October 2007, the disgraceful and fraudulent committee of ‘Dubious Eminences’ has given a political ruling to the effect that the Rama Sethu Bridge is a natural formation only to suit the political and commercial interests of Baalu. It is understood that the government has decided not to file their counter affidavit on 16 January, 2008, in the controversial Sethu case filed by Dr Subramanian Swamy and others in the Supreme Court. I also understand that having come to the categorical conclusion that Baalu will not be in a position to handle this case in a statesman-like manner in the Supreme Court; the Prime Minister has taken upon himself the onerous responsibility of steering this controversial ship across the swirling waters of tortuous and turbid litigation. It is understood that this matter came up before the Union Cabinet meeting yesterday that was presided over by Dr Manmohan. I reliably understand that Baalu failed in his attempts to convert the Union Cabinet meeting into a ‘DMK Kitchen Cabinet Meeting’. Pranab Mukherjee led the attack on Baalu and told him in clear and unmistakable terms that what was politically expedient and reasonable for the DMK party would be totally unacceptable because it would be disastrous from the point of view of the Congress party. Union Law Minister Bhardwaj, the newly turned ‘Rama Bhakta’ and prodigal son of the Congress, told Baalu that the massive report submitted by the Committee of Eminences a few days ago has to be scrutinised carefully by the Ministers concerned and the Ministries and therefore there can be no question of hurrying and scurrying through the finalisation of any counter affidavit of the government for being presented on 16 January 2008. I also reliably understand from my sources in New Delhi that the Union Minister for Culture Ambika Soni came out with a classical cover drive in the true manner of a Sir Jack Hobbs (1882-1963) when she seems to have told Baalu at the Cabinet meeting yesterday. ‘We cannot file the counter affidavit in the Supreme Court on 16 January. We require more time for more detailed study, discussion and analysis. Both my Congress party and I have got into unnecessary trouble with millions and millions of people in northern India, though I am in no way responsible for it. You seem to be the chief architect of all this trouble and mischief.’ Thus, it has been reported to me that Baalu found himself in splendid and insular isolation at the Union Cabinet meeting, with none of the Ministers from his own DMK present at the same meeting, supporting him openly on this issue. The UPA government, ever since it came to power in 2004, has consistently shown an unprecedented contempt for constitutional proprieties and procedural safeguards, both in letter and spirit. Talking about America, Justice Felix Frankfurter said, ‘The history of liberty in USA has largely been the history of observance of procedural safeguards.’ The same view was also taken by another great American Judge Justice Francoise Brandeis: ‘And in the development of our liberty insistence upon procedural regularity has been a large factor. Respect for law will not be advanced by resort, in its enforcement, to means which shock the common man’s sense of decency and fair play.’ I am of the view that the ‘Committee of Eminences’ through their final report have only succeeded in shocking the common man’s sense of decency and fair play. V.Sundaram in News Today

Dr. Subramanian Swamy's letter to the Prime Minister

January 7, 2008
Dr.Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister
South Block
New Delhi 110011.

Dear Manmohanji:

I learn from a media report that you are being apprised of the draft counter affidavit to be filed in the Supreme Court in my Writ Petition on the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project. In an earlier hearing of the Court, my prayer for injunction against the demolition or damaging of the Rama Setu, while dredging, was granted.

Your Government’s earlier counter affidavit rubbishing Bhagwan Sri Rama and the Ramayana was also withdrawn. An assurance in writing was then given by the Government’s counsel that an amicable way would be found after due consultation with the petitioners, and a fresh counter affidavit would be filed.

If indeed media reports on your interest in the matter are correct, then I urge you to take an active lead to find an amicable way out which would entail not touching the Rama Setu. If indeed Rama Setu is to be regarded as a national heritage and an inalienable site of Hindu reverence and faith, the Rama Setu cannot be then touched since it will be entitled to be fully protected under the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites & Remains Act (1958).

Hence, it would be appropriate that, and a proper way, if the claim of all Hindus on the Rama Setu site is researched by the newly proposed National Heritage Commission that is to be set up soon according to un-contradicted media reports. Till then your Government may adhere to the status quo on the Rama Setu matter. Your Government’s counsels may then ask for an adjournment on January 16th when the case is to be listed. I am taking this cooperative approach because my petition is in the nature and form of a PIL and hence non-adversarial. Please therefore do not permit divisive actions for a project which is economically unsound, environmentally disastrous and national security-wise risky. You may have seen Prof.T.A.D.Murthy’s paper submitted to the Indian Science Congress presently in session in Vishakapatnam wherein he has warned of dire consequences from the next Tsunami if Rama Setu is breached.

The SSCP is a foolish venture doomed to failure. Do not allow your reputation sink with it. I am enclosing a copy of a letter dated April 8, 1999 of the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Surface Transport urging the scrapping of the Project.

Warm Regards,
Yours sincerely,

(SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY)

STATEMENT OF DR.SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY, PRESIDENT OF JANATA PARTY MADE IN CHENNAI ON JANUARY 4, 2008

1. The Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSC) will now have to be scrapped because it is illegal. According to earlier Supreme Court judgments, prior environmental clearance of State Government Pollution Boards is necessary before the project can be inaugurated. But in the SSCP case, the PM inaugurated it on January 2, 2005 when the Tamil Nadu Pollution Board had not cleared the project. This fact was revealed by the then CM Ms.Jayalalitha in her message to the Rama Setu Rakksha Manch’s mammoth rally in Delhi on December 30th.
2. The SSCP is also illegal because the Ministry of Environment & Forests in a letter dated April 9, 1999 had advised the Ministry of Surface Transport to drop the project altogether because it is an environmental disaster. The NEERI had also stated in a report of 2002 that environmental clearance cannot be given if explosives are to be used to break through the Rama Setu, and hence the NEERI had rejected Alignment No.5, since it would have required using explosives near Dhanushkodi. Rama Setu however cannot be breached by dredging, and hence the Government was planning to use RDX when I obtained a stay from the Supreme Court. The SSCP thus is doomed to fail, and must be scrapped.
3. It is better therefore to develop Tuticorin and coastal areas of Tamil Nadu by developing a Marine Economic Zone, and by laying a double broad gauge railway line *beep* National Highway, connecting Tuticorin to Kolkata via Vishakapatnam.

4. The doctors of Gangaram Hospital must reveal the truth about the condition of Ms.Sonia Gandhi. The truth is that she had over-eaten infected lobsters imported from Italy during her New Year’s celebration dinner on December 31st. This had resulted in food poisoning.

5. The abolition of the monarchy in Nepal even before holding of the General Elections, on the demand of the Maoists, is serious blow to Nepal democracy and a major set back to India’s national interest.

The Government of India should ensure that present King Gyanendra is protected from mob violence and offered sanctuary in India till better times come for democracy in Nepal.

6. The Government of Tamil Nadu should make arrangement for Veeramani, Nedumaran and Vaiko to migrate to Mullaitheevu in Jaffna area because their patron, V.Prabhakaran is in dire straits. These three persons should show some loyalty to their benefactor whose ill-gotten narcotics trade cash has funded their activities in India so far. India can do without them.

(SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY)

Finally we have them on the Web! Enjoy!!

Dr. Subramanian Swamy interview on Hinduism with CTS TV Canada - Part 1
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1712243349323343484&hl=en

Dr. Subramanian Swamy interview on Hinduism with CTS TV Canada - Part 2
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6161525532715981859&hl=en

Dr. Subramanian Swamy interview on Hinduism with CTS TV Canada - Part 3
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1954214506531287455&hl=en

Dr. Subramanian Swamy interview on Hinduism with CTS TV Canada - Part 4
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1702185898119250427&hl=en

Dr. Subramanian Swamy interview on Hinduism with CTS TV Canada - Part 5
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8587101294410741633&hl=en

Dr. Subramanian Swamy interview on Hinduism with CTS TV Canada - Part 6
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6575980604572860048&hl=en

HERALDING THE LAUNCH OF

“TERRORISM IN INDIA - A STRATEGY OF DETERRENCE FOR INDIA’S NATIONAL SECURITY” – The latest Book authored by Dr.Subramanian Swamy.

A section of Chennai City’s intellectuals witnessed the launch of Dr.Subramanian Swamy’s latest book titled “Terrorism in India – A Strategy of Deterrence for India’s National Security” organized at the famous venue “Landmark”, on Thursday the 13^th of December 2007. Incidentally ‘Landmark’ celebrated its 20^th Anniversary on the same day. Coincidentally, it happened to be the 6^th Anniversdary of Teror attack on Indian Parliament. What a day to launch a book on Terrorism & National Security!

Dr.Swamy needs no introduction. Holding a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University, he still continues teaching there as a visiting Professor and he has also published famous papers on Economics jointly with Nobel Laureatte Paul A. Samuelson. He is recognized internationally as an authority on Economics. His political background and vast experience is well known. He has been elected to the parliament five times. He has also been a Minister in former Prime Minister Chandrasekhar’s cabinet. He has a thorough knowledge on External Affairs & Foreign Policies. His two previous books “Hindus Under Siege: The Way Out” and “Srilanka in Crisis: India’s Options” deserve to be mentioned now, in the context that, he talks about Islamic Terroprism & LTTE Activities in his latest book.

In the course of his launch speech, Dr.Swamy dealt with the present terror & security scenario, how our country has been made as a soft target for terrorists, particularly due to the vote bank politics practice by the pseudo-secular political parties, the mindset of the minority communities, lack of awareness in the majority community and the formation of sleeper cells in the Muslim dominated areas. He also highlighted the Naxal & Maoist menace spreading far & wide within the country from Assam to Tamil Nadu and the recent spurt in LTTE activities.

Dr.Swamy emphasized that, India as an integrated country, must foster a “Concept of Identity” in order to deter terror. He felt that, we, as a country, have not come out of the “identity crisis”, even after 60 years of independence. He categorically said that, the ancient Hindu Identity must be established to resolve the identity crisis, and once that is done, the minorities, particularly Muslims & Christians would easily understand the ways & means of adjusting with the majority, resulting in a well integrated India with peace & harmony.

As the division of Hindu majority along caste & linguistic lines will be a danger, resulting in India becoming a Muslim or a Christian country, Dr.Swamy asserted that, the feeling of Nationalism & Patriotism must be developed in the minds of the people, by creating awareness on the true history of the nation, which will help a long way in resolving our identity crisis. As the nation is very weak at present, he felt that, a society based on the concept of “Dharma” is vitally needed to get rid of the decay of morality and decline of character.

As a strategy of deterrence against terrorism, Dr.Swamy suggested many ways such as, Removal of Article 370, Implementation of Uniform Civil Code, Enacting Anti-
Conversion Laws, Compulsory teaching of Sanskrit language and making it as the National Language, Mandatory singing of Vandemataram, Resettling of Kashmiri Pandits & a million Ex-servicemen in Jammu & Kashmir and removal of a Masjid standing on the remains of a Temple for every bomb attack on a Temple, etc. He said that he had explained these strategies in detail in the book along with many other actions to counter terror.

Later, Dr.Swamy read out a few paragraphs from his book, which was followed by an interesting interactive session. Then Dr.Swamy autographed a few books, which were purchased on the spot.

The book has been published by M/S. Har-Anand Publications Pvt Ltd, E-49 / 3. Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi – 110020. Tel: 011-41603490, E-Mail: haranand@rediffmail.com The book is available at M/S. Landmark, 3. Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai – 600 034. The book with 143 pages is priced at Rs.295/-

Rotting Congress/Tamilnadu politics, Dr. Swamy's cue from islamic-hindu Indonesia: adore Ganesha

November 21, 2007

STATEMENT OF DR.SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY, PRESIDENT OF JANATA PARTY MADE IN CHENNAI

With the spate of ghastly assassinations of politicians, gruesome arson in newspaper offices disgusting denigration of Hindu religion, and sickening adulation of terrorists by the minority DMK-led administration, the stage is now set for the UPA government to perform it's constitutional duty to dismiss the Tamil Nadu State Government under Article 356 of the Constitution. If the Union Government fails to perform its sworn and bounden duty to initiate necessary action, I shall approach the Supreme Court to seek directions to compel the Union Government to perform it's duty to the Constitution and impose President's Rule in the State.

Today, even the coalition partners of the DMK such as TNCC and PMK, are saying that the internal disturbance in Tamil Nadu is unprecedented and grave.

Moreover, as AIADMK leader Ms.Jayalalitha has stated, by expressing sympathy for the banned terrorist outfit, the LTTE, the Chief Minister Mr.Karunanidhi has revealed himself to be anti-national person and a traitor to the country. Such a person therefore cannot remain as Chief Minister.

The Sri Lanka Defence Minister has declared that the days of Prabhakaran leader of the LTTE "are numbered". The government of India therefore should tell the Sri Lanka President that after capturing or killing Prabhakaran the his government must proceed to federalize the present Sri Lanka Constitution by adequate devolution of constitutional power to the Tamils. Otherwise Tamils of India will have to help fill the vacuum created by Prabhakaran's removal from the scene, by extending moral, political and human rights support for a new democratic Tamil formation in Sri Lanka. I shall also use my influence in the US, Israel and China to see that the Sri Lanka government does not take Tamils for granted.

The AICC session held recently has sickened the people by the disgusting sycophancy of Congress leaders towards the Maino Gandhi dynasty.

The nation is also watching with consternation the ridiculous firmans being issued by Mr.Rahul Gandhi to Congress Party worker:

First , Mr.Gandhi told the Congress that growing opium must be made more profitable, by the Finance Ministry by fixing a higher price for the poppy crop. Opium can quickly be converted to heroin, which destroys the health of it's consumer, besides promoting crime and terrorist activities.

Second, Mr.Gandhi told the CWC that there is nothing wrong in abandoning Khadar cloth, which hitherto was compulsory for the Congress Party workers. Little did he realize that Khadi Gram Udyog, which still provides employment to lakhs of the 'aam aadmis' for whom Congress leaders shed tears in public, would be destroyed by this firman and lakhs would become unemployed.

Third, Mr.Gandhi informed that CWC that to drink 'a peg or two' of alcoholic liquor is not wrong. This would naturally boost the liquor industry, and in turn corner future investments from essential goods sector, on the market principle of investments chasing high profits, thereby creating a shortage of essential commodities for the 'aam aadmi'.

Hence it is now appropriate for Mr.Gandhi to add two more firmans for completeness of his inane outbursts. I suggest the following two:

Fourth, it is not wrong for a Congress worker or leader to get married anonymously to a Colombian girl holding Venezuelan passport in the island of Tenerife in Canary Islands, and not tell the public about it, even if the girl is a daughter of a heroin peddler.

Fifth, there is nothing wrong for a Congress worker to keep a foreign passport, especially Italian, on a modified spelling of one's own name, for use in emergencies and for anonymous foreign travel to obscure places like Cayman Island for banking operations, and for purchasing Participatory Notes on hawala laundered funds.

These Five Points of Mr.Rahul Gandhi then can replace all the 420 programmes of the party of his mother.

The Indonesian Government has decided to issue its 20,000 rupiah note with Lord Ganesha's picture. According to the Finance Minister of Indonesia (which is a Muslim majority country) the reason for putting Ganesha picture is to "remove all obstacles from the financial development of the State, whose economy during the last ten years has suffered many a crises.

(Subramanian Swamy)

Sethu project is a white elephant

By Subramanian Swamy (Deccan Chronicle, Nov. 19, 2007)

Mr Kancha Ilaiah, in his article Science goes missing from Ram Sethu debate (The Op-Ed Page, November 16), is aggrieved that despite my PhD degree in economics, I have shamed the discipline by choosing to defend the Ram Sethu in religious terms. I may add that Mr Ilaiah, despite being an activist against the "Brahminical hegemony" in Hindu society has chosen to rubbish Maharishi Valmiki's Ramayana and its historicity, despite Valmiki being of Dalit parentage.

I oppose the rupture of Ram Sethu to dredge out a seabed furrow called the Sethusamudram channel on religious, economic, environmental and national security grounds. However, even if the project is economically viable, which it is not, environmentally acceptable, and safe from the perspective of national security, I will still oppose it, because breaking a 300-metre wide passage through the Ram Sethu is sacrilegious.

To the question, "Ram Sethu hai (Is there a Ram Sethu)?" I reply, "Ram se tu hai (You are from Ram)."

The central premise of the project that it is economically viable is based on the assumption that it will reduce travel time for ships from the west of India to the east, without having to go in a circular arc around Sri Lanka, as at present.

The DPR (detailed project report) prepared by L&T-Ramboll for the project calculates the distance and time thus saved for ships using Tuticorin and Kanyakumari as starting points and reaching Chennai at an average of 335 nautical miles and 30 hours respectively. But the error in the calculation is in assuming that all ships will save 30 hours or save 335 nautical miles.

For example, ships from Europe, West Asia and Africa will save much less time than ships moving from the east to the west coast of India. This is because ships sailing on open seas will travel at double the speed than permitted inside the channel, and the arc around Sri Lanka is of less curvature when coming from Mauritius or Europe and going to Kolkata.

At the current tariff levels proposed in the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (details in my forthcoming book: Defending the Ram Sethu), ships will in fact find it cheaper to travel around Sri Lanka rather than use the channel.

The project also calculates Indian and foreign interest rates for loans of nearly Rs 1,800 crores at half the current market rates, thus significantly understating the amortisation of the loans, and therefore grossly underestimates the cost of the channel. This naturally lowers the internal rate of return (IRR) on the project in a present value calculation, at less than 2.5%. No public sector project is permitted at such low IRR.

The usual way to calculate the economic viability of a project is to estimate the revenues over time, as well as the fixed and variable costs of the project. The net benefit to ships is calculated on the assumption of the tariff to be paid by ship traffic through the proposed channel, and set against the costs saved by taking a shorter route via the channel. Moreover, the now proposed 167 km long Sethusamudram shipping channel, created by dredging the ocean floor to a depth of 12 metres and a width of 300 metres, can structurally allow the passage of ships of only 30,000 DWT or lower tonnage.

However, most ocean-going ships today are above 30,000 DWT in weight and thus cannot use the channel. And yet, the DPR is premised on 3,000 or more ships passing through the channel, when the number can never be above 500 in the most optimistic projection.

Other substantive objections are that the project is a financial disaster that will guzzle resources on maintenance since it will require continuous dredging of sand; is environmentally non-sustainable, in fact hazardous; and will facilitate terrorists such as the LTTE to go from north of the Ram Sethu in Jaffna area to Tuticorin, which they cannot do at present.

The legendary bridge of coral reefs and rocks was built, according to the Ramayana, on the direction of Lord Ram. That such a causeway of coral rocks and reefs exists has been established by modern satellite photographs. That it was constructed, and is not a natural formation was established by Dr S. Badrinarayanan, formerly director of the Geological Survey of India. His report has been so far hidden from the Supreme Court by Ms Ambika Soni, the Union minister for culture.

The channel route chosen, of the total six that had been suggested from 1860 till 2005, involves cutting through the Ram Sethu. Interestingly, all the other five alignments suggested earlier, before or after Independence, called for skirting the Ram Sethu and cutting through land, either on the mainland at Mandappam, or through Pambam Island. The government's insistence on hurting the feelings of nearly a billion Hindus by preferring this non-viable channel is perhaps explained by the mindsets of Sonia Gandhi, M. Karunanidhi and Kancha Ilaiah.

To navigate the channel, a ship will first have to start slowing down two hours before reaching the mouth of the channel. Then it will have to follow several procedures leading to dropping of anchor and waiting for a pilot to board the ship to steer it through the fragile channel at half the speed of its open sea route. All this will consume 15 hours. Between October and December, cyclonic storms and winter monsoon will make the channel unusable.

The DPR underestimates the total fuel cost as it does not mandate the use of low sulphur diesel in the ecologically sensitive Palk Bay biosphere reserve area. In fact, there is no mention at all of low sulphur diesel that should be used in these areas. Our estimates for fuel savings are extracted from the L&T-Ramboll DPR, which simply states that the "ships will use IFO in the open seas and MDO in the channel where there is a restriction, and a need for a better vehicle response."

Thus, it is false to state that there will be a substantial saving on fuel costs by using the Sethusamudram channel. On the contrary, there will be a substantial loss of $500 to $950 depending on the tonnage of the ship. The viability of the project thus rests on a set of assumptions that are fundamentally flawed. It assumes savings for all ships are the same, when they are actually very different. Revenue and time saved have been vastly over-estimated, while costs of dredging and maintenance grossly under-estimated.

The project will also deprive thousands of fishermen living in Tamil Nadu's coastal districts of Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram and Pudukkottai of their livelihood. Its impact on the fragile Gulf of Mannar will be disastrous. According to a report in Business Line on October 16, the project and fishing activities are mutually exclusive. The nation has to choose one or the other: Fishing or ship channel. Tamil Nadu's fishermen have not been told this secret yet.

The Sethu project has been justified on the basis of the cost savings estimates for ships using the channel. These cost savings have not been adequately detailed out and in fact the actual savings for ships using the channel have been grossly exaggerated. This is especially true for ships coming from Europe, Africa or other locations. The fuel savings for many of these ships is in fact negative, while the total savings (including reduction in time charter) actually works out to just 30% of what is claimed by the L&T-Ramboll DPR for most non-coastal ships.

The significantly lower level of savings implies that the tariff that can be charged by the channel will be much lower than that claimed by the DPR. This has significant revenue implications as over 60% ships which "benefit" will not want to pay the amount as claimed in the DPR. This project will be a financial white elephant. In particular, the DPR over-estimates revenue, under-estimates the cost, and chooses an absurdly low rate of interest to discount the net benefits to obtain a high per cent value to justify the project. We cannot allow the government to fool around with the public in this manner.

"I don't think this project will ever see the light of day because there is no money," said Ashish Kumar Singh, vice-president of capital markets at Axis Bank Ltd., to The Mint on September 24, 2007. Axis, formerly known as UTI Bank, was appointed as the "loan arranger" for the project in 2005.

Since the project's inception in 2004, costs have skyrocketed to at least Rs 4,000 crores, interest rates have crawled higher and old loan terms have lapsed. Mr Singh said that the project was languishing because "no company will dredge the channel for cheap and Indian dredging companies don't have the required equipment." Even before the first dredger began its work in 2005, costs had already spiralled to more than Rs 3,500 crores, Mr Singh said.

The loan sanctions, valid only up to Rs 2,400 crores, lapsed. To secure more money, he said, Sethusamudram Corporation Limited would have to return to the drawing board, draw up new reports, sit with parliamentary committees and receive fresh approval.

As of now, the expected shipping will not amortise the cost (including maintenance, regular dredging, costs of pilots, tugs, support vessels, communication and radar infrastructure), leave alone earn profits. Who then will use the channel, even if we overlook the LTTE Sea Tiger threat, the ever-present problem of cyclones, piracy, smuggling, marine pollution, fights over fishing rights, gun and drug running mafia operations, tsunami etc.?

There is also the security angle to be considered. Once the channel becomes operational, policing it would require a major increase in the assets of the Indian Coast Guard, customs and marine police in Rameshwaram and Tuticorin.

Keeping in mind the proximity of Tuticorin to the Palk Bay because of the channel, the Indian Navy too may have to consider permanently basing some assets in Tuticorin for more intensive surveillance, for the protection of future oil exploration rigs, and to ensure a quick response to threats from the LTTE.

Subramanian Swamy is a former Union Cabinet Minister for Commerce, Law and Justice

http://deccan.com/Columnists/Columnists.asp?#Sethu project is a white elephant

Dr. Subramanian Swamy's letter to Secretary, The Committee of Eminent Persons On Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project.

October 28,2007.

Secretary,

The Committee of Eminent Persons

On Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project,

“Malligai”, 30/95 P.S. Kumarasamy Raja Road,

Chennai, TN 600 028.

Dear Sir,

Kindly place the following objections and suggestions to, and for the implementation of the Sethusamundrum Channel Project (SSCP). I reserve the right to question the objectivity as also raise the matter of heavy bias and prejudice against the historicity of Sri Rama afflicting this Committee later before the Supreme Court.

I. OBJECTIONS:

1. It is false as declared by the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. S. Ramachandran to the media in a written statement, on June 11, 2007, that “There is no doubt that this chain of islands (i.e., Rama Setu) formed due to natural process” (Annexure 1). This creates an apprehension of bias and pre-judgment by the leader of this Committee on the issue whether or not a ship channel in the Palk Straits can safely and without causing public disorder, be dredged by cutting through the Rama Setu. The report prepared by the former Director of the Geological Survey of India, Dr. S. Badrinarayanan, is available with the Government and should be accessed by the Committee, to correct this erroneous view of the Chairman, which view has profound consequences. The President of India, on a reference to the Earth Sciences Department had received an opinion, submitted in March 2007, holding that the Setu is constructed and not “formed due to natural process” as the Chairman has held publicly. I am enclosing extracts of both these reports (Annexures 2 & 3). The media had made this disclosure on the basis of these reports as far back as May 8, 2007 (Annexure 4).

2. It is false as stated by the Minister of Culture, Ms. Ambika Soni in answer to a question in Rajya Sabha, that there is no “scientific evidence” to establish that the Rama Setu qualifies to be an ancient monument and that it lacks the essential ingredients required under law to be considered for inclusion in the list of ancient monuments. The evidence in Annexures 2 to 4 is sufficient under Sections of the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites & Remains Act (1958) requiring an investigation by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in association with the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), to decide this question.

3. It is false as stated by the Minister of Shipping and Transport Mr. T.R. Baalu that the SSCP is environmentally sustainable, and cleared by the NEERI and other scientific establishments. The NEERI had conveyed in writing in a letter dated April 8, 1999 to the Government that prima facie the Institute was not in favour of the SSCP project at all. The NEERI also specifically rejected the Alignment No.5, circling Dhanushkodi because then the coral reef rocks beyond east of Dhanushkodi would have to be blasted by explosives, which would completely de-stablilize the marine environment and life.

On June 17, 2002, the NEERI did revise it’s opinion, in order to support the presently chosen Alignment No.6, but on the condition that explosives will not be used for cutting through the Rama Setu. However, the Minister of Shipping, Mr. Baalu has made a public statement that the Government (having failed repeatedly to cut through Rama Setu with dredger machines) proposed to use explosives to create a breach in Rama Setu. This is in violation of NEERI’s considered opinion. Moreover, as Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha publicly disclosed on September 2, 2005, an expert committee headed by the former Director of the NIOT, Mr. M. Ravindran in a report submitted on May 30, 2005 to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, well before the SSCP was inaugurated, had recommended more studies, tests and research as the NEERI 2002 study was shoddy, made without consulting the GSI, and professionally inadequate. Moreover, the NEERI failed to take into account as brought out by Shipping companies (Business Line, October 2007) that fishing activities in deep sea cannot be carried out after the SSCP becomes operational. That is, fishing and SSCP are mutually exclusive activities. This will cause monumental distress to the poor sections of Tamil society.

4. It is false to state that the SSCP is economically profitable. The rate of return calculation, the estimated time saved by ships in using the Sethusamudram Ship Channel, and the interest rate to be paid for loans to finance the project, are grossly wrong because these are based on contrived or bogus data. The studies of Captain H. Balakrishnan, and infrastructure consultant Dr. Jacob John may be referred to for more accurate calculation (See Annexures 5 & 6).

On the best and most favourable assumptions, the rate of return on the SSCP cannot exceed 2.75%, at which rate no public sector project can be sanctioned. It is then better to put the project funds in a fixed deposit and provide subsidies to ships to encourage them to dock at Thoothukudi port. Further, no ship of tonnage more than 30,000 DWT will be able to use the Channel, thus excluding the majority of ships plying on the Indian Ocean from the alleged benefits of the SSCP.

5. The Minister of Shipping Mr. T.R. Baalu, through relatives and benamis has commercial interests in the shipping industry through a company which charters ships of less than 30,000 DWT, which raises a serious question of conflict of interest on part of the Minister.

II. SUGGESTIONS:

1. If the Committee would want to be objective and just, then it ought to recommend to the Government to set up a multi-disciplinary agency (MDA) to re-calculate the economic returns, maintenance costs, environmental implications and social benefits of the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project. This MDA consisting of experts from GSI, NIOT, and overseas Indian origin consultants, should explicitly recognize that issues of public order and national security will matter in making its final recommendation.

2. The Committee in view of the irrefutable objections given above, has to rule out Alignment No.6 as impossible to implement, in view of the Rama Setu being an inalienable legacy of the nation that cannot be in the slightest desecrated and that too merely to satisfy perverse desires of a few atheistic persons in office or those ignorant or unaware of how deeply the nation worships Sri Rama. The nation-wide public order will be jeopardized if the Rama Setu is damaged in any way. Moreover, if the ASI finds that Rama Setu is indeed qualified to be an ancient monument, the SSCP cannot touch it under law. Hence Alignment No.6 must be abandoned forthwith as impossible to implement in Indian democracy. I have however no objection to Alignment No.1 being chosen (Annexure 7).

3. The Committee ought to recommend to the Ministry of Culture that it may immediately declare and notify the Rama Setu as an “Ancient Monument” within the meaning of the law laid out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (1958). The Committee should also recommend to the Government to approach the UNESCO to declare the Rama Setu as a ‘World Heritage Site’, and take necessary steps to provide the essential infrastructure to render Rama Setu as a ‘Tirthstan’ and ‘Divya Kshetra’.

Yours Sincerely

(Subramanian Swamy)