http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=168823 The RSS, which has been opposing Sethusamudram project citing religious and other implications, has admitted that it was embarrassed when someone claiming to be a %u201Cspace scientist%u201D, helping it with its arguments, emerged as a person with questionable credentials.
%u201CYes, that was (an embarrassment),%u201D RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav said, when he was asked whether the RSS was embarrassed by the episode.
%u201CThat was certainly an unfortunate happening in our organisation. We are a simple, open organisation which trusts all our people. Sometimes, once in a million cases, we may be misled,%u201D he said.
Puneesh Taneja, who had helped in the RSS campaign against the project, used %u201CDr%u201D before his name and flaunted visiting cards and stationery identifying himself as a %u201Csenior research scientist, additional secretary, department of space, Prime Ministers Office, South Block, New Delhi.%u201D He allegedly forged his credentials, according to a newspaper report.
However, contrary to how it was projected by the media, Taneja had practically no contribution to the Ram Setu movement, Madhav said. %u201CAs soon as this came to our knowledge that this individual was not a scientist or an ex-PMO official, we took necessary action. That chapter is now over.%u201D
Describing the benefits cited for the Sethusamudram project as %u201Cexaggerated%u201D, Madhav said there was no change
