NEW DELHI: The last day of parliament saw the opposition attacking the Government over reply in Rajya Sabha stating that there is no historical evidence of birthplace of Sita and it is only a matter of faith.
Replying to a question on archeological excavations near birthplace of Sita in Sitamarhi, Bihar, Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said that no excavation has been carried out by Archeological Survey of India (ASI) that can show that Sita was born in Sitamarhi as said in Ramayana.
Sharma’s reply irked several members and Congress leader Digvijay Singh demanded an apology from the minister for hurting his religious sentiments about Sita’s birthplace.
“To say that birthplace of Sita, wife of Lord Rama, is matter of faith means even Lord Rama is a matter of faith for the government. Do they have any evidence of Rama marrying Sita? How they can say it when they have been politically using Rama at all platforms,” said Singh.
He further said that when the Congress led UPA government had said similar thing about the Ram Setu, a bridge between India and Sri Lanka, the BJP has protested about it.
The culture minister continued that Valmiki Ramayana which is dated 2nd Century BC says that Sita was born in Mithila and there is no doubt about that.
As Sharma came under attack of the Opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had just come to the house, asked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to show him the question being answered.
JD(U) leader Anil Kumar Sahani attacked the minister saying the reply that birthplace of Sita is a matter of faith puts a question mark on Lord Rama. Several other members including Congress Ambika Soni and Samajwadi Party’s Jaya Bachchan raised the matter.
Sharma said that government has taken steps to include Sitamarhi in 'Ramayana circuit' planned by the government.