Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the spiritual leader on Thursday stated that he tried to open a dialogue with the Islamic State group but it refused him by sending him a photograph of a beheaded man. In an interview, Ravi Shankar said “I tried to initiate peace talks with the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) recently but they sent me a photograph of a beheaded body of a man. Thus, my effort for a peace dialogue with the ISIS ended.”

He also said “dialogue alone was the key to peace with the Islamic terror group but conceded that talks would not succeed if the fighters believed. I think the ISIS does not want any peace talks.” The 59-year-old said his aim was to unite all cultures, religions, faith and ideologies.

“Isis is very peculiar. I stretched my hand out to have a dialogue, but when these people think no-one else has a right to exist, talks alone will not work,” said Ravi Shankar. Holding a series of meetings across Tripura, he stressed on the need to bring peace to the north-eastern region.

Among Shankar’s many accomplishments, the staging and gathering in Delhi to mark the 35th anniversary of his Art of Living Foundation that brought together dignitaries from around the world to one stage.

He also said the National Greet Tribunal’s decision to fine the Art of Living Foundation Rs 5 crores for allegedly causing environmental damage to the Yamuna flood plains in Delhi “was politically motivated”.