New Delhi: A day after National Green Tribunal gave its nod, the World Culture Festival being organised by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art Of Living (AoL) foundation will commence from Friday.
While delivering its order, the green tribunal imosed a fibe of Rs 5 crore fine on AoL, which is supposed to be paid by today 5 pm. However, noted spiritual guru Sri Sri has said that they will not pay any fine, rather he is ready to go to jail.
The NGT has maintained that if the AoL foundation fails to give initial environmental compensation of Rs 5 crore for holding its mega event on Yamuna flood plains, law will take its own course if it fails to do so.
NGT Chairperson Swatantar Kumar said, "If there is any breach of any condition, the matter will be taken up as and when required and law will take its own course."
However, Sri Sri's comments that he would not pay the fine has triggered speculation about the course likely to be adopted by AoL.
Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi on Thursday confirmed his participation at the upcoming mega global event here in which tens of thousands of people are expected to attend.
The three-day event will be held from March 11-13 on the west bank of Yamuna to celebrate 35 years of the foundation.
President Pranab Mukherjee, who was scheduled to deliver the valedictory address at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s WCF commencing in Delhi from March 11, on Monday decided to distance itself from the event.
Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Sri Sri said, “The President had sent a beautiful message for the World Culture Festival. He has expressed his inability to attend the event because he has to attend a program in Allahabad.”
