World Cultural Festival: Venkaiah Naidu backs Art of Living

The Union minister said that the event would bring 'glory to India'

Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday came out in support of the World Cultural Festival being organised by Art of Living on the Yamuna flood plains and dismissed controversies surrounding the event, saying it should not be politicised.

In a series of tweets, Naidu said it would be an event to celebrate cultural diversity and "will bring glory to India".

The urban development minister questioned the criticism over the army building pontoon bridges for the event, saying that there have been instances when the army has helped out during major congregations like Kumbh under previous governments.

Read more from our special coverage on "SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR"

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• SC junks plea seeking to stop Art Of Livings World Culture Festival
• I wont pay fine, ready to go to jail, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar tells NDTV
• Army unhappy with festival duty
• Environment ministry fails to file affidavit at NGT in the Art of Living case

 

"Unnecessary fuss abt army building pontoon bridge. In earlier regimes, several instances like Kumbh Mela, Sankranti in Nashik, Army did the same," Naidu said on Twitter.

He noted that 36,000 artistes participating in one event is in itself a record. "It's a cultural event to celebrate diversity. Let's celebrate and join d festival," he tweeted.

"World Culture Festival by Art of Living will bring glory to India. Let's not politicise this," he said in another tweet.
 

World Culture Festival by Art of Living will bring glory to India. let's not politicise this.

— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) March 11, 2016

36000 artists participating in one event is in itself a record.Its a cultural event 2 celebrate diversity. Let's celebrate & join d festival

— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) March 11, 2016

Unnecessary fuss abt army building pontoon bridge.In earlier regimes,several instances like Kumbh Mela,Sankranti in Nashik,Army did the same

— M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) March 11, 2016

The three-day cultural extravaganza, beginning on Friday, has been embroiled in controversy after environmentalists alleged that preparations for the event have damaged the ecology of Yamuna flood plains and demanded that it be stopped. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) allowed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living to hold the festival but slapped a fine of Rs 5 crore.

The tribunal was informed last evening that the organisers of the event were yet to obtain all clearances even as the spiritual leader said he would go to jail rather than pay a fine of Rs 5 crore.

The NGT bench, headed by chairperson Swatanter Kumar, had said law will take its course if the Art of Living fails to pay the fine.