Amidst unconfirmed reports that there was difference of opinion among ministers on the approach to be adopted on the Ram Sethu issue, the government on Thursday finalised a 90-page affidavit to be filed at the Supreme Court seeking vacation of the stay on implementation of the Sethusamudram project.

The affidavit was approved at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, sources said.

With the government still rankled by the controversy that erupted following the earlier affidavit’s questioning the existence of Ram, the meeting reportedly saw divided opinion on how to approach the issue this time.

According to sources, the Shipping Ministry, which has DMK’s T R Balu at the helm, wanted the affidavit to unequivocally state that the controversial Ram Sethu or the Adam’s Bridge was a natural formation, while the Culture Ministry, whose earlier affidavit had created a political storm, wanted it to state no study had been done on whether it was natural or man-made.

The CCPA meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Energy Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Culture Minister Ambika Soni, Law Minister HR Bhardwaj and Mr Baalu.

Meanwhile, Congress refused to comment on the affidavit, stating that its contents would be known only when it is filed in Supreme Court next week. “We will be able to comment only when it is filed,” AICC spokesperson Mohammad Shakeel Ahmed said.