United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi has sought clarification from the government on the stand taken by the Archaeological Survey of India putting a question mark on the very existence of Ram Sethu and mythological characters mentioned in the Ramayan.
"Yes. Gandhi has sought clarification from the government," AICC general secretary in charge of media Janardhan Dwivedi confirmed, when asked about reports that Gandhi had expressed concern over the stand taken by the ASI.
The ASI had said in its affidavit before the Supreme Court on Wednesday that there was no archaeological evidence to establish the existence of Lord Ram or other characters of the Ramayan.
Denying that Ram Sethu or Adam's Bridge is a man-made structure, the ASI argued that 'Ramcharitmanas' by Tulsidas cannot be taken as a historical record.
The ASI filed the affidavit in response to three petitions, transferred from the Madras High Court to the apex court, challenging the government's decision to construct the Sethusamudram Canal Project on the Tamil Nadu coast.
Hindus believe that Ram Setu was built by Lord Rama with the help of Hanuman's 'Vanar Sena' to cross over to Sri Lanka to free his wife Sita from the captivity of 'demon king' Ravana.
