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NT Bureau
Chennai, Sept 12:

SAVE THE SETHU: BJP State president L Ganesan leading a protest against the destruction of Ram Sethu, at Anna Salai in Chennai today. (Right) Hindu Munnani founder - organiser Rama Gopalan with his supporters at a demonstration at Vadapalani this morning. PHOTOS: K Vijay Anand & B Anand

        The national wide road and rail roko organised today by Hindu outfits against the demolition of Ram Sethu brought life to a standstill for many hours in several parts of the country including Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi.

        As part of efforts to halt the demolition of Ram Sethu for the Sethu Samudram Ship Canal project (SSSCP), various Hindu organisations and the BJP came together today under the Rameswaram Rama Sethu Protection Movement (RRSPM) and staged road blockades from 8 am to 11 am at important intersections in various towns and cities across the nation.

        In Chennai, workers of the RSS, VHP, Hindu Munnani and the BJP blocked traffic at the arterial Anna Salai, Vadapalani and Mint clock tower resulting in traffic snarl.

        BJP state president L Ganesan led the roko at Anna Salai. VHP International working president Vedantam and BJP state secretary Thamilisai Soundarajan presided over the agitation at Mint intersection in north Chennai.

        Hindu Munnani founder organiser Rama Gopalan and BJP national secretary Thirunavukarasur resorted to road blockade at Vadapalani. Slogans condemning the Centre government were raised by the protestors for its uncompromising stance on the issue. Later the leaders and activists were arressted and taken away by the police.

        Elsewhere in the nation, activists in Delhi blocked vehicular movement across the city affecting traffic at Nizamuddin bridge, ITO, Yamuna bridge, Akshardham temple, Vikas Marg, Connaught Place, Dwarka flyover, Lajpat Nagar, South-Extension and along National Highway 8.

        In Mumbai, traffic movement at 23 busy spots in the city including important junctions on the S V Road in north-west Mumbai, Saki Naka and Turbhe Naka, was blocked by the protestors. Similar protests were reported from Punjab, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhyapradesh besides other States.

        Tens of hundreds of protestors have been taken into custody for trying to block road and rail traffic throughout the country.

        Protestors were oppossing dredging in the Palk bay region to create an artificial canal in the shallow ocean as it would destruct the ancient Rama Sethu to enable vessels to circumnavigate the Sri Lankan island while going from west to east.

        It may be recalled that the Supreme Court had given an interim stay for dredging operations in the Ramar bridge area till 14 September.

        Meanwhile, the Central government today told the Supreme Court that there was no 'historial proof of Rama or Ramayana.'