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Indian Government Claims Ram's Bridge Not Essential To Hindu Beliefs

By Howard M. Friedman

For some time there has been a case pending in India's Supreme Court challenging the government?s plans to dredge a shipping canal between India and Sri Lanka in order to reduce sailing time between India?s coasts by 30 hours. However, the channel goes through limestone shoals known as Adam?s Bridge or Ram's Bridge that Hindus believe were built by the God King Rama. (See prior posting.) On Monday, according to IANS, the government filed its written arguments with the court, and those arguments are controversial. The government contends that it has not been proven that the Ram Setu bridge in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka is an "essential and integral part of Hindu religion." It went on to argue: "A religious belief or practice which is not an essential and integral part of the religion is not protected by Article 25 or 26 of the constitution."

Meanwhile, however, complying with an earlier suggestion by the court, the government has appointed a special committee to examine whether it would be possible to create an alternative and shorter sea route around India?s southern tip, and in that way avoid damage to the Rama Setu.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 15, 2008 (boomark / email).