Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says tolerance is in India's DNA, those returning 'Awards' maligning country's image

New Delhi: Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Sunday denounced writers, scientists and filmmakers for returning their awards over 'intolerance' issue in the country, saying 'tolerance is in India's DNA'.

Speaking exclusively to Zee Media, the Art of Living founder said, “Tolerance prevails in India's DNA but people of this country are indifferent to things happening around them. By returning 'Awards' people have maligned India's image. If you are not satisfied with the government's work then protest against it. Refuse the awards in advance, as I did.”

Sri Sri further hit out at people for questioning the judicial proceedings of India. “If a person (Afzal Guru) was proved to be a terrorist and was punished as per the constitution then no one should question it. It's an insult to the court.”

“Saying things like ‘Bharat ko barbaad karke rahenge’ will not be tolerated by any democracy and any civilised society,” he added.

“We need to decode the real intention or motive behind such provocative things. It has to be seen that whether JNU row was based only on an incident was a planned scheme to attack the government. It can't be left unattended,” said Sri Sri while talking about JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar's arrest and subsequent release case.

Further putting his weight behind his event- World Culture Festival – scheduled to take place on the banks of Yamuna, which is expected to be attended by 3.5 million people from around 155 countries, Sri Sri said, “People from worldwide like: Uruguay, Perugia, Chilli, South America are eager to listen this programme. They have booked halls where this event will be broadcasted. In India, even in a small village in Kerala people are looking forward for it. So, I think the event will spread a big message to the world. It is high time that we bring closer the people of this world under 'spiritualism' so that we can provide a terror-free world to our future generation.”

"The Art of Living should be lauded and rewarded for even choosing such a polluted place for a prestigious international event,” he added.

While stressing that they will not cause any harm to the river, the spiritual guru said, “It takes enormous courage and commitment to ready a place where once, one could not even breathe due to the stink. It's joke of the year when people say 'Art of Living' is polluting Yamuna.”

The spiritual guru further applauded the volunteers of the programme for doing a commendable job by cleaning the Yamuna. “Our volunteers have created some special enzymes which has lowered the pollution level and the bad odour of the river,” he said.

World Culture Festival will be held on the 35th anniversary of the Art of Living foundation.

However, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) pulled up the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for granting permission to hold Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's 'World Culture Festival' on the banks of Yamuna.

The three-day event will be held on the floodplains of the Yamuna river near DND toll bridge and massive construction is underway for the festival starting March 11.