The World Culture Festival, being organized in Delhi by spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, seems to be hogging headlines for the wrong reasons. Against the backdrop of a raging controversy about the impact of the festival on biodiversity of the surrounding region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “If we keep criticising ourselves, why would the world look at us?”
Praising Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Art of Living Foundation for organising the event, Mr Modi congratulated Ravi Shankar and all the participants for presenting such a diverse image to the world. He said that we must be proud of our cultural heritage.
Mr Modi shared the stage with the spiritual leader and other world dignitaries. The National Green Tribunal (NGT had) ordered Mr Ravi Shankar’s Art of Living to pay the interim compensation of Rs 5 crore for the environmental damage to the Yamuna flood pains due to festival. However, the organisation moved an application saying it needs four weeks time to deposit the amount and to comply with all tribunal directions.
The cultural festival was embroiled in a controversy over environmental concerns. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had accused the political parties of trying to politicise the event. The cultural show ran into further trouble when Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe pulled out of the event, citing inadequate security. This issue was raised with India’s External Affairs Ministry. The ministry said that it was the foundation which invited the Zimbabwean leader and only they can answer why Mr Mugabe did not come.
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