Sri Sri Event: It's Official, PM Modi is Going: 10 Developments

Sri Sri's "World Culture Festival" was given the go-ahead by the National Green Tribunal yesterday with fines and conditions, amid concerns over the damage to the fragile ecology of the Yamuna flood plains.

Sri Sri's Art of Living has refused to pay Rs 5 crore fine imposed by the tribunal. "We will go to jail but will not pay the fine. We have done nothing wrong," Sri Sri told NDTV.

The three-day event will feature yoga and meditation sessions, peace prayers and cultural performances.

A seven-acre stage has been set up for over 35,000 artistes and visitors from 150 countries. Many temporary bridges, ramps, mobile towers and a parking area are also being built over a 1,000-acre area on the Yamuna banks.

Sri Sri said today a separate stage has been set up for PM Modi after security concerns put forth by the elite Special Protection Group that protects the country's top leaders.

President Pranab Mukherjee, who was also invited to the event along with PM Modi, has cancelled his attendance.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mogabe, who came to Delhi for the event, also announced that he has decided to fly back home because of "substantial inadequacies in protocol and security arrangements".

The green tribunal noted that there is evidence that the "flood plains have been drastically tampered with, the natural flow of the river has been destroyed and reeds, grasses and natural vegetation on the river bed have been removed."

A group of experts appointed by the tribunal had told NDTV that Art of Living must pay around 100 crores to undo the environmental damage.

Facing opposition questions yesterday, the central government defended the event, saying "Sri Sri's intentions must not be questioned." Even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that "politics and controversies" should be "put to rest" after the court clearance.