New Delhi: After the suspension of two ASI officials, Culture Minister Ambika Soni has ordered an inquiry into the issue of the controversial Ram Setu affidavit filed in the Supreme Court.

Soni, who returned from a visit to Japan yesterday, has set up the inquiry so that responsibility can be fixed for the affidavit filed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the Supreme Court, official sources said. The ASI comes under the purview of the Culture Ministry.

Soni is meeting UPA Chairperson and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi today to brief her on the issue, the sources added.

The minister had yesterday approved the suspension of two senior officials of the ASI in connection with the affidavit. The two officials, Director Administration, Chandrashekhar and Assistant Director of Monuments, V Bakshi were placed under suspension following an inquiry conducted by ASI Director General A Vaish, according to sources.

The inquiry was ordered by the Secretary of Culture Ministry and action against the two ASI officials was taken on the basis of its report submitted by Vaish yesterday.

The ASI affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, which said that there was no historical or scientific proof about the existence of Lord Ram or Ramsetu as a man-made bridge, had set off a huge political storm with the BJP attacking the government, accusing it of hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.
In was withdrawn yesterday.