The Expert Committee of the NGT had quoted a random figure of Rs. 120 crores after a cursory visit to the site more than a year ago. This was later contradicted by the head of the NGT's Expert Committee, Shri Sashi Sekhar when he realized that this figure did not have any scientific basis! He requested the Hon'ble Chairperson of NGT not to consider it.
It is unprecedented that an Expert Committee comprising people like Shri CR Babu, Shri AK Gosain and Shri Brij Gopal recommended an arbitrary figure without any scientific basis.
This is the background of the Expert Committee on this case. Our legal team will have to study the basis of the new figure that has come up today. They will study the report and decide on an appropriate course of action.
The Expert Committee of the NGT who were supposed to be non-interested parties in the case have given biased interviews in public while the case is sub-judice.
How come Shri CR Babu, who is one of the senior-most members of the Committee, gave a media interview maligning The Art of Living by concluding that the World Culture Festival had caused damage even before any assessment was done? This shows bias beyond doubt.
The closeness of the petitioner with the Expert Committee members was not disclosed to us when the Expert Committee was appointed by NGT. They are caught in their own web of misdeeds.
We have been victims of a conspiracy. And we will fight for the truth to come out. We have full faith in the judiciary and are confident of a just verdict.
The Art of Living is a responsible and environment-sensitive NGO. We have never caused any damage to the environment but have in fact worked for preserving and reviving it through various environment-related projects over the years.
