Trust to continue philanthropic activities, no differences claim members

Stating that some vested elements were making baseless allegations against the Members of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust the members on Thursday pledged to carry forward the philanthropic activities started by the spiritual guru Satya Sai Baba during his lifetime.

Addressing the media persons for the first time after the death of the Satya Sai Baba, Trust member Venu Srinivasan stated that there is no need to issue clarifications or respond to the canards spread by the vested elements who are trying to defame the Trust.

Earlier, the Trust members observed a two minutes silence before the Samadhi of Sathya Sai Baba before addressing the media.

“The Trust presumes that there are vested interests trying to defame it. 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,” Mr Srinivasan stated.

He pointed out that the man against whom most of the allegations had been leveled, Satyajit was former student of a Satya Sai Institute of Higher Education. The institution had been set up by the Trust and Sathya Sai Baba has personally chosen Mr Satyajit for attending to his personal services.

The Trust also strongly denied that a casket had been ordered on April 4, as claimed by some persons and published in the media.

“The casket in which the Sai Baba’s body was kept for darshan was sent by one of his devotees,” the Trust said, without going into detail.

The meeting was attended by Trust members—Giri, Chakravarty, Indulal, Justice P N Bhagawati, Naganand and Satya Sai Baba’s nephew Ratnakar.

The members provided details of educational institutions, hospitals, immovable properties and other charitable initiatives managed by the Trust and pledged to continue to carry on these services.

They said that the Trust is getting funds through voluntary donations, and announced plans to set up an Institute of Higher Education at Muddenahalli near Devanahalli, Karnataka 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. 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 Satya 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 vested interests. 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.

They said the Trust was spending more than Rs 100-130 crore on the charitable activities and receiving funds in the form of cheques to the tune of Rs 80-100 crore.

Replying to certain questions, another member of the Trust, Naganand, said no action by anyone is pending against the Trust, and that the Trust members have impeccable credentials. He added that the members have been serving the Trust on honorary basis, duly motivated by the message of Satya Sai Baba to serve humanity.

Naganand further said that the Trust will take a decision on giving the authority of signing cheques for carrying out the Trust’s affairs within a couple of days. At least two members will have the authority to sign the cheques, he stated.

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.

Denying that there were differences between the Trust members, they said that a Chairman will be decided on sometime later after a meeting of Trustees and Council of Management.

Mr Srinivasan said that, “there is no Will of the Baba as far as we know, and neither are we aware that the seer had a successor in mind.”

Saying that state and Central governments have not expressed any inclination to interfere with the Trust’s affairs, the members said that the Ministers who visited Puttaparti to pay their last respects to the late Satya 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 Satya Sai Baba, who wanted to see him, were allowed to see him in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.