It's now fashion to criticise anything Hindu, Bharatiya: Naidu

With the Opposition leaving no stone unturned in criticising the government over the World Cultural Festival being organised by the Art of Living foundation, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said it has become a fashion nowadays to criticise anything Hindu, Bharatiya or Indian, adding this has become the mindset of some people.

Naidu came out in support of the World Cultural Festival on Yamuna floodplains and dismissed controversies surrounding the event.

"In this country, it has become a fashion to criticise anything Hindu, Bharatiya or Indian and that is the mindset of some people. Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji is bringing name and fame. It is a World Cultural Festival; it is a prestige for the country. If there are environmental issues, it would be taken care, to politicise and try to ban the programme is not good for the country," Naidu told ANI.

Naidu had earlier questioned the criticism over army building pontoon bridges for the event, saying there have been instances when the army has helped out during major congregations like Kumbh under the previous governments.

"The bridge made by the army is not for Sri Sri Ravishankar ji, but it is for the people who are coming from various part of the world. It is a function for unity in diversity," he said.

When asked as to why the opposition was critical of the government, Naidu said "They can't digest Prime Minister Modi and hence they want to politicise everything."

He noted that 36,000 artistes participating in one event is in itself a record.

The three-day cultural extravaganza from today has been embroiled in controversy after environmentalists alleged that preparations for the event have damaged the ecology of Yamuna flood plains and demanded that it be stopped.

The National Green Tribunal allowed the Art of Living of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to hold the festival but slapped a fine of Rs 5 crore.