No record of Rama, says ASI; Blasphemy: BJP

In the midst of a political controversy over the Sethusamudram project, the central government today told the Supreme Court that there was no historical evidence to establish the existence of Lord Rama or the other characters in Ramayana.

In an affidavit filed before the apex court, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) rejected the claim of the existence of the Ramsetu bridge in the area where the project was under construction.

The project proposes to provide a shorter sea route from Rameshwaram to Sri Lanka.

Referring to Ramayana, the affidavit said there is no "historical record" to incontrovertibly prove the existence of the character, or the occurrences of the events, depicted therein.

Govt affidavit on Ramsetu blasphemous: BJP

BJP today accused the Congress-led UPA government of "blasphemy" by telling the Supreme Court that there was no historical evidence to establish the existence of Lord Rama or the other characters in Ramayana.

"This is sheer blasphemy," BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra said reacting to an affidavit filed by ASI rejecting the claim of the existence of Ramsetu or Adam's bridge in the area where the Sethusamudram project was under construction.

"It's an insult to Hindu faith. We also wonder why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi have been going for the Dussehra festival if their government does not believe in Lord Rama's existence," he said.

BJP and other constituents of the Sangh Parivar are opposing the Sethusamudram project saying it would damage an undersea bridge believed to be built by Lord Rama.

"Today, the government in its affidavit says there is no evidence to prove the bridge was built by Lord Rama or that Lord Rama ever existed. This is an attack on Hindu sentiment - a ferocious one," Malhotra said.

Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists staged protests across the country against the project.