Spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: Govt schools create Naxals

At a time when both the Centre and the Odisha government is trying hard to resolve the Italian hostage crisis, spiritual guru and the Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has labeled the government schools as the breeding grounds for the Naxals.

Holding the uncaring attitude and mismanagement of the government-run schools responsible for turning out a large number of home-grown rebels, the spiritual guru even advised the government that it should not run any school and should depute the responsibility to some other institution or system.

"It's often seen that boys from government schools are into Naxalism and violence. Those from the private education system are not into these things. They move ahead with an ideal (adarsh) and teachers are responsible for it," he was quoted as saying by media reports on Wednesday.

The rather bold statement made by Sri Sri, who is largely seen as a non-controversial and highly revered figure in the country, is likely to baffle both the Centre and the Odisha government, which is trying hard to end the Italian hostage crisis at the earlist.

His remarks come nearly a week after two Italians - Puri-based tour operator Paolo Bosusco and tourist Claudio Colangelo - were abducted while trekking in Kandhamal district on March 14.

The two men had driven down from Puri and entered a forested area in spite of being warned by the Daringibadi police about the presence of Maoists.

A driver and cook who were accompanying them and their vehicle were released by the Maoists subsequently.

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to visit Pak on peace mission

In an attempt to strengthen India-Pakistan ties, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will Monday embark on a three-day peace mission to Pakistan where he will meet the country's top leaders.

Ravi Shankar will enter Lahore through the Wagah border on March 12 and proceed to Islamabad and Karachi.

"If we spend one-tenth of what we have spent on conflict, we could create a much more prosperous South Asia, where no one knows the gun, no one suffers from disease and no one cries for life," the spiritual leader said in a statement here today.

Emphasising the need for people-to-people contact between the two countries and urging the youth to commit themselves to the creation of a non-violent and harmonious South Asia, he said, "We have spent a lot on conflicts, on escalating conflicts and on destruction of life and environment. Now we have to work towards making peace."

Besides visiting places of religious significance, including the Badshahi mosque, Ravi Shankar will be inaugurating an Art of Living centre in the presence of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's advisor Dr Paul Bhatti.

The spiritual leader will also hold talks with business leaders, academicians, spiritual leaders, student organisations and opinion leaders.

During his last visit to Pakistan in July 2004, Sri Sri had inaugurated Art of Living's stress elimination programmes as well as humanitarian service initiatives.

The foundation has also been involved in relief efforts in the Swat valley, and collection and distribution of relief material and raising funds for rebuilding of schools (in partnership with Rotary International) for the 2008 Quetta earthquake relief.