Amethi visit cancelled due to political pressure: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today said he could not visit Amethi during his ongoing anti-corruption yatra in Uttar Pradesh as the Ashram which had extended him invitation was pressurised not to call him.

"I was invited by Sri Hari Ashram to visit Amethi during my yatra but I had to change it (the plan) because my people there were facing undue pressure from political parties and they requested me not to come," he said.

Amethi is the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi.

On reaching Shri Mahua Baba Sewa Ashram in Jamsoti village in naxal-infested Naugarh block of the district, the spiritual guru addressed a gathering, mostly comprising tribals, on the art of living.

Advocating a strong Lokpal Bill, he said his yatra was not to oppose or support any political party.

On the naxal issue, Ravi Shankar said youths, who had been misled and were involved in such activities, should join the mainstream.

"All the children of this region must get education and no one should be deprived from going to schools. I will provide free of cost education to everyone in this region," he said.