President not to attend Sri Sri’s event in Delhi

New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) President Pranab Mukherjee will not attend the World Culture Festival to be organised by spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living foundation, Rashtrapati Bhavan officials said on Monday.

The president had earlier agreed to attend the opening ceremony of the three-day event here on March 11 along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. More than 35 lakh people are expected to attend the event.

The Art of Living along with the Delhi Development Authority is facing in the National Green Tribunal a case of alleged violation of environmental laws and polluting the Yamuna river. The NGT is expected to deliver the verdict in the case later this week.

According to some estimates, about 35,000 people will attend a musical evening as part of the larger event on the bank of Yamuna in the national capital.