Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to NGT: No damage done to Yamuna; when lies are exposed, it is shocking
Responding to the National Green Tribunal, which called the Art of Living irresponsible, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said those who say AOL is irresponsible have "gained a sense of humour."
In Short
- Those who call us irresponsible, have developed a sense of humour, says Ravi Shankar.
- We have done no wrong, he added.
- Comment comes after NGT rapped Ravi Shankar and Art of Living.
Barely an hour after the National Green Tribunal slammed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his Art of Living foundation, the spiritual leader responded saying AOL has done no wrong.
"The truth is we have caused no damage to the Yamuna. When lies are exposed, it is shocking," news agency ANI quoted Ravi Shankar as saying.
"Those who say the Art of Living is irresponsible simply don't know us or have gained a sense of humour," Ravi Shankar further added.
Earlier today, NGT, the highest environmental court in the country, slammed Ravi Shankar for alleging bias in a recent expert committee report that was submitted to the tribunal.
The report quantified the damage caused to Yamuna floodplains during the Art of Living World Culture Festival, which was held in March last year.
The expert committee, headed by Shashi Shekhar, the Union secretary of water resources, said that it would cost Rs 13.29 crore and take ten years to mitigate the damage caused.
"The ground (where the WCF was held) is now totally levelled, compacted and hardened and is totally devoid of water bodies or depressions and almost completely devoid of any vegetation," the 47-page report also said.
Responding to the report, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said in a statement, " This report is completely flawed, unscientific and biased... We have placed significant material on record before the NGT (National Green Tribunal) which clearly shows the committee is biased."
The NGT today took objections to Ravi Shankar's comments, calling his statement "shocking" and telling the Art of Living that it has "no sense of responsibility".
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