Naidu defends Art of Living event, says India’s prestige is at stake

The BJP leadership on Thursday came out in strong defence of the World Culture Festival after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the event was announced.

The BJP leadership on Thursday came out in strong defence of the World Culture Festival after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the event was announced.

Taking on critics, parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu said: “It is a prestigious event for India. India’s prestige is at stake in the event. No body should politicise the event.” (Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times)

Taking on critics, parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu said: “It is a prestigious event for India. India’s prestige is at stake in the event. No body should politicise the event.”

The BJP pointed out that the AAP government, which is at loggerheads with the BJP on most of the issues, had maintained a silence on this occasion.

Naidu, who had been a vocal critic of the Opposition over the JNU row, told Hindustan Times, “When people went to an event on Afzal Guru, there were no problems. There are no problems in praising Afzal Guru. But some people have discovered a lot of problems with the World Cultural Festival. If someone is opposed to such events, he or she should not go.”

The government has come under fire for engaging the army to construct temporary bridges in the World Culture Festival, a private event.