The CPI has asked the Congress to clearly state its position on the Ram Sethu issue and demanded that the Government get the Supreme Court stay on the Sethusamudram project vacated. The party also wants a status paper on the progress made in the implementation of the project so far. Recalling that the CPI and CPI(M) had recently carried out protests in Tamil Nadu to demand implementation of the project, party national secretary D Raja said the UPA should stick to its commitment made in the Common Minimum Programme on the issue. “Both the Prime Minister and (UPA Chairperson) Sonia Gandhi had gone to Madurai to inaugurate the project,” Raja said. The CPI leader also accused the Sri Lankan Government of deploying mines on the Palk Strait and asked the Government to take up the issue with Colombo. “It is a violation of all international laws and conventions. Our government has not questioned Sri Lanka’s act so far. This cannot be tolerated as it endangers the lives of fishermen and seriously jeopardises their livelihood,” Raja said.
