Ambika Soni's job at stake over Setu fiasco

New Delhi: With the Centre actively engaging itself in a major damage control exercise over the Ram Setu controversy, Union Culture Minister Ambika Soni is under tremendous pressure with her own ministerial colleagues now demanding her resignation over the fiasco.

The Centre had on Friday withdrawn two affidavits from the Supreme Court, including the one which said there was no scientific evidence to establish the existence of Lord Ram and the Ramar Setu.

The government also suspended two senior ASI officials, including a director and an assistant director, over the controversy.

Within the Congress, hard politicking is on and Soni could just become the scapegoat if the party needs. Her ministerial colleague Jairam Ramesh indicated that he would want her to resign.

"I cannot speak on behalf of Ambika Soni who is a senior colleague and a good friend of mine. But had I been a Cabinet Minister and had this happened, I would have certainly resigned," he said.

Soni says her ministry was not responsible for the contentious affidavit that proclaimed Lord Ram to be a myth. She, however, she's ready to accept the responsibility and make the 'ultimate sacrifice' (read, resign) if the Prime Minister and the party high command want her to do so

At the same time, Soni reiterates that an amendment made by her ministry had not been incorporated in the affidavit.

Soni, in fact, claims that the Culture Ministry was not responsible for the controversial affidavit on the Ram Setu, which the government had submitted in the Supreme Court earlier this week, sparking off huge protests from the BJP and various Hindu organisations.

Speaking at a press conference, she said the draft of the affidavit came from the Additional Solicitor General and she had made three amendments to it. One of these amendments was not incorporated. The ASI did not prepare the affidavit, she claims.

"A major amendment, which we wanted in place of a line which could cause problems, was left intact in the counter-affidavit which was filed before the court, which we feel is a gross negligence and cannot be overlooked," Soni said on Saturday.

She also said that she would resign if the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi want her to do so. "I have sent all the papers to the Prime Minister. If he thinks I should resign, I will do so immediately," she said.