Lucknow, Read: An important decision of the Supreme Court has put an end to the decade-long media trial and false allegations regarding the prestigious 2016 World Culture Festival of The Art of Living. The court has set aside the decision of the National Green Tribunal as well as all interim actions taken thereafter.
The Supreme Court held that the documents on record proved that The Art of Living's World Culture Festival had caused no damage to the Yamuna floodplain. The court further said that The Art of Living was entitled to get back the entire amount of Rs 5 crore deposited. This deposit amount was wrongly described as “fine” with an intention to tarnish the image of the institution. The World Culture Festival 2016 was a historic global event.
Ran the program 'Meri Delhi, Meri Yamuna' and cleaned Delhi: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
After this decision, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art of Living, said that this decision of the Supreme Court has upheld the truth. During this, he also shared complete information about the World Culture Festival through a video message. He said that we had organized the World Culture Festival on the banks of Yamuna. The reason for choosing Yamuna was that it was very dirty. We ran 'Meri Delhi, Meri Yamuna' program in Delhi and cleaned Delhi. Before the Commonwealth Games, Delhi was in very bad condition everywhere. Delhi Municipal Corporation asked for our help. Thousands of our volunteers together cleaned the entire Delhi. At the same time I said that we should also clean Yamuna.
We were working to clean Yamuna
He clearly said in his message that When we cleaned Yamuna, do you know how much garbage we removed? During the cleaning, about 700 tonnes of garbage was taken out from Yamuna. Even after that the river was so polluted and smelly. So I thought that we will hold a World Cultural Festival on its banks, so that people from all over the world will come and the local and national government will take the initiative to clean it, but this did not happen, our expectations were continuously decreasing because no one did the cleaning, we had to do it ourselves. We had obtained licenses from all departments and authorities. It was a big programme. A massive 7-acre stage was built, 36,602 artists were scheduled to appear, and more than 200 heads of state and dignitaries from around the world were scheduled to attend.
It was the whole game of NGOs and political parties with vested interests.
He said that some vested interest NGOs and political parties alleged that we are destroying the Yamuna plains. The program hadn't even started and they said we had polluted the place! The place was already so polluted, we just wanted to clean it. But they blamed us. I said, 'You should have refused permission in the beginning itself. You gave us permission, told us to go ahead and do the programme, we collected whatever funds were required. They didn't even look at how the place was and said that we have spread pollution.
Misinformation spread by calling deposit of Rs 5 crore as 'fine'
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that some people connived and reported in the NGT i.e. National Green Tribunal that the Yamuna plain has been completely destroyed. We challenged it. The huge stage we built was a floating stage. We had laid metal sheets and erected pillars on them. No excavation was done for that big platform. We took utmost care of the environment, because when we removed the platform there was still grass under the plates, images of which were also available. But a big media trial was conducted against us. Then NGT said to deposit Rs 5 crore, if there is no loss then they will return it. But that deposit of Rs 5 crore was publicized as if we were fined! There's a fine when you destroy something, right? The program had not even started, so how could one impose a fine? I said I will not pay the fine, we have not done anything wrong. I was ready to go to jail for the truth, but then our people requested, only two days were left, international dignitaries, Members of Parliament, many Prime Ministers and Presidents were coming to India. I said okay, while registering the protest we deposited a deposit of Rs 5 crore. The program was to start on Friday. The committee members requested me, 'Gurudev, please agree to give it, otherwise permission will not be given.' We had prepared everything, so I said okay, but truth will prevail and we will fight for it.
The chairman of the committee which had reported that there was a lot of damage, later wrote a letter and accepted it. The chairman of the committee himself said that he is sorry, I had not even inspected that place, I had never gone there. I had fever, my assistant made the report and I only signed it, so it is not authentic and I cannot confirm it. He himself denied his allegations. Till now it was going on that 'Yamuna ji was harmed, this was done, that was done.' This hurt all our volunteers and teachers. I told them, 'Be patient, be strong, truth will prevail and patience will be rewarded.'
He said that the same thing has happened today after 10 years. The Supreme Court has made it clear that there is no evidence that our program caused any harm. People from 155 countries had come there and the kind of media trial that took place was not pleasant not only for the Art of Living but for the whole of India. But we all went through it, kept smiling, did not lose courage and stood firm.
Assumptions should not be made on the basis of one report
The findings and allegations made against us in this case should be made in light of the available documents, statements of the parties concerned and judicial records. Assumptions about any institution or person should not be made on the basis of only one report or one side. He said that we clearly believe that there should be an impartial review of the entire record and all relevant facts to bring out the truth. If the chairman of the concerned committee himself has lodged an objection to the findings of any report, then that fact should also get a proper place in the public discussion. The aim of the World Culture Festival was to connect people, give the message of culture and peace. We have never denied our responsibility towards Yamuna and the environment. We believe that environmental protection and human unity are not opposed to each other, but complementary to each other.
Also read: SC's big decision on World Culture Festival: Clean chit to Art of Living! NGT order canceled, instructions to return ₹5 crore also