The much awaited Sri Sri Ravishankar, founder of Art of Living (AOL) arrived today evening in Udaipur. In a press conference at Priyadarshini Nagar today evening he addressed the members of the media.

His much anticipated peace visit to Pakistan will be taking place after he leaves for Delhi tomorrow evening after his public address at the B.N. College ground in the evening (6 pm onwards).  Sri Sri Ravishankar has come to Udaipur after a visit to Madhya Pradesh.

In his address to the media, he made a few important points worth of note.  He said that the basic cause of hatred and violence in the world is due to wrong investment decisions made by governments of most nations.

He also said that all governments are investing in conflict and if even one-tenth of what was invested in the defense budgets is invested in non-conflict purpose, the world would be a much happier and peaceful place to live in.

Sri Sri Ravishankar further added that the political parties in India are giving tickets to hoodlums simply to garner a bigger vote bank, through fear.  Rather, if honest and peace loving individuals were allowed to walk the political ramp, there would be more investment in peace and elimination of corruption.

This is what he intends to promote in his peace mission to Pakistan, which he is making for the second time, after his first visit in July 2004.  In the previous visit, the first by any Hindu spiritual leader to Pakistan, he had expressed his desire to have an Art of Living centre in Pakistan.

His three day peace mission to Pakistan will include an inauguration of the first AOL centre along with Dr. Paul Bhatti, Advisor to the PM; at Islamabad in Pakistan. His journey will include a trip to Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.

Emphasizing on the urgent need for a people to people movement and urging the youth to commit to a non-violent and harmonious South East Asia, Sri Sri said, “we have spent a lot on conflicts, on escalating them and on destruction of life and environment. Now we need to turn towards making peace.”

The visit, taking place at a critical moment in the history of the two countries, aims to find peaceful solutions through promotion of friendship, understanding and dialogue. He said, “99% of the people I meet in Pakistan will be Muslims and even a large portion of the remaining 1% is expected to be Muslim”. AOL has garnered approximately 1-1.5 lac followers in Pakistan.