The Supreme Court of Indiahas recievd a plea seeking construction of a wall at the Ram Setu site ‘in the sea’ for some kms to enable its ‘Darshan’ by all living creatures of God on the ground that its darshan guarantees Moksha.
The plea, is filed in form of a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India through Lucknow-based advocate Ashok Pandey,.
The plea also prays to declare Ram Setu as a national monument as defined in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
The plea states that not enabling the same for the Darshan of Ram Setu, the government is violating the fundamental rights guaranteed by articles 14, 21, and 25 of the constitution.
The Plea also states that starting Darshan and Pooja at the site is necessary so that no devil will dare to plan its destruction.
Ram Setu is a bridge that is a chain of limestone shoals, off the south-eastern coast of Tamil Nadu. It runs from Pamban Island near Rameshwaram in South India to Mannar Island, off the northern coast of Sri Lanka. The bridge is also mentioned in the Hindu epic Ramayana which was constructed by Lord Ram to reach Sri Lanka to rescue Sita from the demon king Ravan.
The Plea also states that construction of a kms will also fulfill the desire of crores of persons to ‘walk, sit and sleep’ on the bridge through which Ram, along with his army went to Lanka to kill Rawan and to establish Ram Rajya in (Sri) Lanka.
The plea states that it is very pious for the Hindus as the Ramayana, Sri Ramcharitmanas and Purans (Skanda Puran, Vishnu Puran, Agni Puran, and Bramha Puran) describe, in detail, about the importance of taking Snan( Holy bath) in Setu area.
Significantly, the Plea argues that the ruling government at the Centre claims to be working to bring Ram Rajya, however, the plea adds, it is not possible unless the Darshan of Sri Ram Setu is managed by erecting some wall.
“Erecting of some wall is possible as only 4 to 40 feet water is there on the said Setu from start to end. The request is that by the side of the Setu, some wall should be erected so that the bridge may come in open for its Darsan by the people. In case this Setu comes in open, It will give the way to the people across the world to come to Dhanuskoti ( Rameshwaram) for the Darshan of the bridge constructed under the orders of Lord Ram,” the plea states.
Further, the plea submits that by taking steps for managing the Darshan of Ram Setu will invite tourists from all over the world as people will get to see that Setu which was constructed under the orders of Sri Ram by Nal and Neel only in four days by the use of trees and stones and which is still existing from the time immemorial.
“The religious people will come to see it as it is the creation of GOD itself and mere a holy dip in this area and the Darsan of this bridge guarantees Mokshha as per Lord Ram himself and the lovers will come to see it as it is ‘Symbol of Love’ between Ram and Sita,” the plea states.
The plea criticizes the UPA Government, which ( 2004-2014) which had made several attempts to destroy Ram Setu by flagging of the dredging machine for its destruction.
It may be noted that a plea, move by Rajya Sabha MP Dr Subramanian Swamy, seeking National Heritage Status for the ‘Ram Setu’ is currently pending before the Supreme Court of India
The Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta informed the Supreme Court that the process to consider national heritage status for ‘Ram Setu’ is underway in the Ministry of Culture.
The issue seeking the declaration of the Ram Setu as a National Heritage was raised by Swamy in his 2007 plea against the Sethu Samundram Ship Channel project. Under the Setu Samundram project, an 83 km long channel was to be created linking Mannar and Palk Strait by extensive dredging. The project was alleged to have an impact on the Ram Setu. The matter has been earlier mentioned by Dr. Swamy on a number of occasions.