Centre defends Art of Living event, says Sri Sri Ravi Shankar committed to protecting environment

New Delhi: Amid the hue and cry over the Art of Living event in Delhi, the Central government defended the World Culture festival which is to be held on the banks of river Yamuna. The government claimed the event is being organised with all permissions

Backing 'Art of Living' founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the Centre said his intentions cannot be doubted as he was committed to protecting environment.

"Sri Sri Ravi Shankar is committed to environment protection and the programme was "being conducted with all permissions and is not illegal", Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

The uproar in the Rajya Sabha began after a united opposition slammed the government for allowing Indian Army to be used for a private event of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living foundation, saying the event itself on the ecologically fragile flood plains of Yamuna was an environmental disaster.

Though Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asserted that the matter cannot be raised in the House as it was already in a cour, the opposition members were not satisfied and rushed into the well shouting slogans, forcing a brief adjournment.

Left leader Sitaram Yechury asked why the Indian Army was being used in the preparation for the event. "Can Army be roped in for a private function?" asked the Left leader.

JDU leader Sharad Yadav and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad gave notice under rule 267 seeking adjournment of proceedings to discuss the issue but the Deputy Chairman P J Kurien ruled that the former's notice was not in order but he was allowing the issue to be raised as a Zero Hour submission.

Azad said said his party members are not against Art of Living, but there were concerns related to environment. "The Environment Minister and Prime Minister went to the Climate summit recently but right in the national capital, such an event in taking place in the Yamuna floodplains," said Azad.

Terming the construction of temporary structure on the flood plains of Yamuna for Art of Living World Culture Festival from February 11 to 13 as "destruction unseen in history", Yadav said NGT had earlier given orders disallowing contruction activity on the ecologically fragile zone and DDA had cancelled permission twice.

He demanded to know "under what pressure was Indian Army deployed to build pontoon bridge for one person." Demanding immediate stoppage of the construction, he said, "What function is he (Sri Sri Ravi Shankar) doing? Kya tamasha kar raha hai (what drama is he doing)?"