CPI(M) slams AOL for 'dodging' NGT orders

AOL's founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said on Thursday he would rather go to jail than pay the compensation

Slamming Art of Living Foundation for "dodging" NGT orders with "sheer brazenness", CPI(M) said Friday it doesn't augur well for the country even as it accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "patronising" the outfit.

"The sheer brazenness with which Art of Living, patronised by PM himself, is dodging The National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders doesn't augur well for the Indian Republic," CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted.

Accusing Union ministers of backing AOL, Yechury also sought to know from the government if such "misuse" of state machinery by the foundation will continue under "direct gaze" of the Centre.

NGT had on Wednesday asked AOL to pay Rs 5 crore as environmental compensation while clearing decks for its three-day cultural extravaganza 'World Culture Festival' on the floodplains of Yamuna.

Environmentalists have alleged that the preparations for the event have destroyed ecology of the Yamuna floodplains.

AOL's founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, however, said on Thursday he would rather go to jail than pay the compensation.