India needs stronger, constructive Opposition: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
The Hindu
The Art of Living Foundation founder is currently on a two-month tour of the United States.
Observing that the national Opposition in the country is weak, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said he believes that for a healthy democracy, it is essential that India has a stronger Opposition, one that is constructive as well.
"India needs a stronger Opposition, a constructive Opposition. The (current) Opposition is very weak. Lack of leadership in the Opposition can make any democracy appear not as a democracy," Ravi Shankar, the founder of the Art of Living Foundation, told PTI in an interview.
"Democracies do need a stronger Opposition -- conservative, creative Opposition that is missing in India. Of course, West Bengal has shown that with free-and-fair elections, no party can meddle with the institutions of India, and the judiciary is quite strong. But the lack of a central Opposition, a strong leader will make the country look like it is autocratic, but it is not. We are such a huge democracy. People have power," Ravi Shankar said.
The Indian spiritual leader is currently on a two-month tour of the United States, travelling to various cities and spreading the message of peace and the need of it in a post-Covid world.
Asserting that India is a vibrant democracy and the elections held in the country are free and fair, he said at the national level, there needs to be a strong opposition party, which is currently missing.
On Tuesday, Ravi Shankar met a group of Congressmen during which they discussed mental health. A day earlier he addressed the Delaware General Assembly, in which he focussed on dealing with mental health challenges and establishing peace.
The spiritual leader highlighted the importance of using one's own breath to achieve inner peace and mental well-being. The Art of Living founder offered his unequivocal support to make Delaware the "Happiest State" by committing to tackle mental health issues across all sections of the community, including students, veterans, prison inmates, physicians, professionals and more.
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