Hyderabad: Satyajit Just a Personal Assistant Chosen by Baba – Trust
Daijiworld Media Network – Hyderabad (SP)
Hyderabad, Apr 28: The members of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, which was formed in 1972, who came before the media after 20 years at Puttaparti, stressed that Satyajit is an ex-student of a higher education institution set up by the trust, and that Sri Sathya Sai Baba has personally chosen him for attending to his personal services. Replying to questions posed by the media, they stressed that there is nothing more to it, and that everything else is a media creation.
The trust members also stoutly denied that the trust had ordered a casket for Sai Baba. Without going into detail, they just said that a casket had been sent by a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba.
“We are aware that there are elements trying to defame the trust. However, the trust will not retaliate or go on giving clarifications. We presume that there are vested interests, because there have been activities that have tried to defame the trust. At the same time, we do not have names of persons or institutions engaged in these activities. Sai Baba had not taken the trust members into confidence while choosing his doctors. He himself chose the doctors and interacted with them. If people imagine things and see something which is not real, we cannot help it. We have no reason to believe that there was something wrong with Sai Baba before March 28,” the trustees said, answering various questions hurled at them.
At the meeting attended by trust members, Giri, Venu Srinivas, Chakravarty, Indulal, Justice Bhagawati, Naganand and also Ratnakar, nephew of Sathya Sai Baba, the trust provided details of educational institutions, hospitals, landed properties and other charitable initiatives managed by it, and pledged to continue to carry on these services. They said the trust is getting funds through voluntary donations, and laid bare its plans to set up an institution of higher education at Muddenahalli near Devanahalli soon.
About the controversy over value of assets owned by the trust, they said the value is highly exaggerated. “We have given details of all the properties the trust owns in the list circulated. These properties are used for various charitable activities. They are not available for trade, commercial use, lease or disposal. Their value is inconsequential. There are a number of institutions which were inspired by Sai Baba, but are run by respective bodies which are not under the control of the trust. We emphatically deny accusations of financial irregularities let loose by interested parties. We are maintaining accounts scientifically, getting the same audited periodically, and statements and returns are filed with the respective authorities including income tax department, under various statutes,” the members added.
Replying to certain questions, they said no action by anyone is pending against the trust, and that the trust members have impeccable credentials, and that they have been serving the trust on honorary basis, duly motivated by the message of Sai Baba to serve the humanity. About puja and other procedures that will be performed at the Samadhi of Sai Baba, the trust said it will meet soon and work out these guidelines, as they were shocked by the demise of their spiritual guide. Denying that there were differences between the trust members, they said that the trust chairman will be decided sometime later. Saying that state and central governments have not expressed any inclination to interfere with the trust’s affairs, they said the ministers who visited Puttaparti to pay their last respects to the late Sai Baba had pledged full support for the future activities of the trust.
About doubts expressed about treatment given to Baba, the trust said periodical bulletins were issued about his condition, and that all the relatives of Sathya Sai Baba, who wanted to see him, were allowed to see him in the hospital’s intensive care unit.