A woman from Bhimavaram in West Godavari created a stir at Puttaparthi yesterday claiming that Sri Sathya Sai Baba will return on May 14 to live till the age of 96. She asked the trustees to stop preparations for Baba's funeral on Wednesday. The lady, Ms Surya Matha, lamented "Baba regularly interacts with me. He told me that he would return on May 14. He has asked devotees to protect his body. I told Swami, I can't help since no one is taking heed of my words."

Ms Matha, along with one Ms Laxmi Swami from Visakhapatnam, launched hunger strike at the samadhi of Eswaramma, Satya Sai Baba's mother, demanding that the Sri Satya Sai Central Trust and the government stop funeral preparations. "I have been a devotee for the last 20 years. I speak to Baba in meditation. People know this in my village and they address me as Swami Talli (mother)," she said trying to attract the attention of passersby. Ms Laxmi said that because of Sai Baba she had got a house and her daughter, who is studying here, has been provided with medicare. "I will sit on hunger strike along with her. It's a fact that Baba is not dead. He will be reborn," Ms Laxmi claimed.