Bhopal, Sept 22 : Blaming the UPA Government of completely bungling in handling the Ram Setu issue, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday demanded an “unqualified apology” from the Centre, and said the ruling coalition should recognising Ram as a “great national hero.”

In its resolution on the Ram Setu issue, adopted at its ongoing national executive meet here, the BJP also called for preservation of the bridge as a National Heritage, saying that during the debate on this issue in Rajya Sabha, important party leaders had demanded this.

“The BJP reiterates its demand for declaring the Ram Setu as a world heritage, and stopping all activities which will or are likely to destroy the bridge,” said the resolution.

The party accused the government of ignoring the “sane advice” of the Acharyas, Tsunami experts, scientists, environmentalists, scholars, and of rejecting appeals from eminent persons like former Justices Krishna Aiyer and K.T. Thomas.

Coming down heavily on the UPA over the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on the issue, the resolution said this was an affront to the nation and its traditions, and was “in fact an insult to the freedom struggle, which according to Mahatma Gandhi was aimed at establishing Ram Rajya.”

It went on to say that instead of totally withdrawing that affidavit and apologizing from the nation, the government failed even to identify as to who drafted the affidavit and at what level was it approved.

“The utter confusion prevailing on this issue in the Congress party has been reflected in the war of attrition going on between various leaders blaming each other for this fiasco,” the party said.

Hinting at the recent statements made by DMK supremo M Karunanidhi, it said that the party “disapproves the diversionary tactics adopted by certain groups by raising slogans and arguments, which tend to divide the people on the basis of geographical, linguistic and racial theories.”

“If the constituents of the UPA government continue to insult Sri Ram then the inescapable conclusion would be that the Congress led UPA government also approves such statements and is conniving with such acts of national shame,” BJP said. (With inputs from ANI)