I was happy to read Kantaben and Prabhakant’s observation and comments about World Culture Festival, organized in Delhi by Sri Sri Ravishankar’s Art of Living Foundation on dates 11-3 to 13-3-2016. It must be noted that with 3 million attendees, there was no untoward incident of any kind. Please note that if each attendee spent about 1000 rupees per day per head, millions of rupees were added to coffers of Delhi government and central government. Instead of thanking, Art of Living Foundation was forced to pay hefty fine of rupees 5 crores within a very short time in spite of permission by Delhi Development Authority one year ago. If warned earlier, by NGT and Agricultural organization, venue might have been shifted.
This penalty was a jarring note for Foundation, members and sympathizers. Opponents of the festival acted within very short period: luckily Supreme Court rejected petition to ban the Festival. This last minute protest and penalty under the excuse of pollution proves how Indian heritage, culture and religion is rubbished at home whereas it is welcome all over the world We hope that Foundation pursues legal action to get penalty waived and monies already paid refunded.
Ramesh Jhalla
By email
