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Baba Death Halts Election Campaign

With the news of Sri Sathya Baba's death, the ongoing election campaign came to a standstill in Kadapa district. Political leaders from various parties suspended their election campaign in Kadapa for a day due to the sudden death of Satya Sai Baba. The Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, who was scheduled to take a three-day campaign for the Kadapa elections had boarded the Venkatadri Express on Saturday night and reached Tadipatri in Anantapur district early on Sunday for a brief halt. When he was about to start his campaign from Jammalamadugu Assembly segment adjacent to Tadipatri, the news of Sai Baba's demise came in. Mr Naidu contacted the Satya Sai Trust members at Puttaparthi to confirm the news and cancelled his campaign and left for Puttaparthi. The YSR Congress party president and former Kadapa Lok Sabha MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his mother, Ms Y.S. Vijayalakshmi, who is contesting from the Pulivendula Assembly seat, were attending the Easter celebrations in Pulivendula church. They cancelled their campaign for the day. Mr Jagan rushed to Puttaparthi to pay homage to the departed soul. The former chief minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, former minister, Mr J.C. Diwakar Reddy, who were also in Kadapa, cancelled their election meetings and left. Reports from Kadapa said that several Congress and TD leaders also suspended their electioneering for today.

Telangana Celebrations Postponed

After an informal meeting of Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekhar Rao with the senior party leaders, it was decided to postpone the party's 10th anniversary celebrations scheduled to be held on April 27 by two days. This decision was taken in view of the demise of Sathya Saibaba and the announcement of a three-day mourning by chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. The 10th TRS Formation Day celebrations will now be held on April 29 at Mahbubnagar. The TRS proposal to celebrate the event has been facing several hurdles from the day one. The TRS initially wanted to hold a massive public meeting at Parade Grounds, but the state police refused permission claiming that it could result in law and order problem as it happened during the 'Million March' recently.  

Suresh Kalmadi in CBI Custody

Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, who chaired the organizing committee of Commonwealth Games held in India in September last year, has been taken into custody by the Central Bureau of Investigation. Large scale misappropriation of funds and kickbacks were said to have taken place in conducting the CWG. Nearly 70, 000 crores have allegedly changed hands in this scam. The CBI has till now interrogated Suresh Kalmadi four times in this connection. Though Suresh Kalmadi has been maintaining that the he has got nothing to do with the actual conducting of the games, he was accused with awarding contracts without proper tenders and there by receiving kickbacks from the companies. He was nailed down by the CBI particularly in case of a London based A S Film company. Kalmadi is accused of awarding out of way contract for broadcasting rights of 'Queen's Baton' event, that was held prior to CWG in London, to this company. Before taking Kalmadi in to their custody, the CBI has grilled him for over two hours in the A S Films related issue. After taking him in to custody, he was shifted to an unknown destination. How long CBI will be keeping him in their custody, is not yet known.    

Believers Await Sathya Sai Avatar

Even as Sri Sathya Sai Baba is lying in Sai Kulawant Hall in Puttaparthy blessing devotees with his last darshan, there are many an ardent believer who say that Baba isn't gone for ever. It's only a 'transit', the say, Baba will soon reincarnate (reborn) as Prema Sai in to this world. A family in Mysore claims that Baba will be reborn as Prema Sai in 2012 near the Ambegala Krishna temple in Doddamalur in Maddur taluk of Mandya. Sathya Sai Baba in a landmark discourse on July 6, 1963, on Guru Purnima Day revealed that the Sai avatar is a triple incarnation of the Siva-Shakthi principle. First among this trinity was Siva as Shirdi Sai Baba, Shiva and Parvathi embodied as Sri Satya Sai Baba Himself) and the Shakthi principle that will incarnate as Prema Sai, is awaited.  

Sachin Pays Homege to Sathya Sai Baba

CricketerSachin Tendulkar, an ardent devotee of Baba visited Puttaparthi along with family to pay homage to his 'Guru' Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Sachin was a sad man on his 38th birthday yesterday as his spiritual guru Satya Sai Baba passed away at 7:40 in the morning. A 'Do Not Disturb' sign was hung on his hotel room door since the news of Baba's demise came and Tendulkar did not even meet his teammates. The Mumbai Indians captain did not celebrate his birthday in view of the tragedy and was somber in his team's victory over Deccan Chargers. Ever since playing in the Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup at Baba's behest, where Sachin led an India XI against World XI on 30th December 1997 at the Hill view Stadium in Puttaparthi, Sachin has been a regular visitor to Puttaparthi.  Sachin made a point to visit Prashanti Nilayam whenever he had the time to do so. The most recent one being when he sought the blessings of Baba just before the 2011 World Cup which India won.    

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Last Rites

State tourism minister Smt. Geetha Reddy made the official announcement pertaining to Sri Sathya baba's last rites, who passed away this morning at 7.40 AM. She told the media that family members of Sathya Sai Baba and the trust members have decided to keep Baba in Sai Kulawanth Hall for two days, Monday and Tuesday to facilitate paying homage and last respects by the lakhs of devotees coming from all over the world. The devotees coming to pay homage will be allowed in to Sai Kulawanth Hall from 6 'o' clock this evening, till the evening on Tuesday. Sathya Sai Baba's last  rights will be performed in Sai Kulawanth Hall itself on Wednesday, 27 April morning.    

Puttaparthi Sathya Sai Baba Biography

Puttaparthi Sathya Sai Baba was born as Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23, 1926 to Eswaramma and Peddavenkama Raju Ratnakaram in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh. He has two elder sisters, one elder and one younger brother. At the age of 14,  Sathya Sai Baba decided to enter God man’s life and since then he was described as the incarnation of God by his devotees. His preachings and practices towards developing a holy life attracted scroes of people and Sathya Sai Baba started Prashanth Nilayam in 1948. Sathya Sai Baba also indulged in several social welfare activities and apart from India, Sathya Sai Baba had millions of devotees across 135 countries where he even set up Ashrams. A classic example of Sathya Sai Baba's social welfare activity is to provide drinking water to 1.2 million people in the drought-prone Rayalaseema region in Anantapur and also a 200 crore project of donating drinking water to Chennai in 2004. He even established free medical camps and education in more than 166 countries. Sathya Sai Baba and his organizations continued their support in establishing free educational institutions, hospitals, and other charitable works in India and abroad. Sathya Sai established more than 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba spiritual centers across 114 countries having devotees ranging from high profile people, top politicians, to upper-middle-class, middle class and the poor. He is a cultural icon in India and had devotees starting from Prime Minister, President, etc and by 2002, Sathya Sai Baba had followers across 178 countries. Like many other sages, Sathya Sai Baba too faced a lot of criticism from the skeptics, who tried to prove Baba's miracles as either fake or sleight of hand. But eventually all their claims proved to be false and Baba's reputation as 'Bhagawan' grew multifold. Baba himself have boldly asserted that "I am beyond the reach of the most intensive enquiry and the most meticulous measurement. Only those who have recognized my love and experienced that love can assert that they have glimpsed my reality. Do not attempt to know me through the external eyes." Sathya Sai Baba was admitted to the super-specialty hospital at Prashantigram at Puttaparthi on 28 March 2011 following respiration related problems. After 28 days of hospitalization, during which his condition continuously deteriorated, he passed away at 7.40 AM on 24 April 2011.  

Sathya Sai Baba Died at 7:28 AM today

Sathya Sai Baba Passeds Away - Satya Sai Baba Dies: Puttaparthi Sathya Sai Baba died today at 7:28 AM and Sathya Sai trust as officially declared Sathya Sai Baba dead shortly at Putaparthi. Puttaparthi Sai Baba death news has sent scores of devotees into dejection and they were inconsolable.Sathya Sai Baba's relatives and close associates are expected to drop at the hospital shortly.   Sathya Sai Baba was admitted into super specialty hospital on March 28 and has been battling for life. His health condition has not improved over the period of time and Sathya Sai Baba passed away today morning after suffering from multi-organ dysfunction. His health condition deteriorated further and his organs stopped responding to treatment.     3.Sathya Sai Baba's Life from 1926 to 2011 - 02 The news of Sathya Sai Baba no more is something that Sai devotees are unable to digest. The electronic media and other forms of fourth estate are covering this Satya Sai Baba's death news on live telecast. The security has beefed up since last few days at Puttaparthi with the Govt. officials and trust members anticipating Sai Baba's death news. Scores of foreigners, NRI, VVVIP's, Ministers, big shots, top business magnets, etc are expected at Puttaparthi in the next two days. As such., the Government has fielded various police forces to Puttaparthi to take complete control of the situation. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and Governor Narasimhan are expected to leave to Puttaparthi today.   4.Whole country in deep sorrow: Advani on Sai Baba Sathya Sai Baba's body would be kept at Sai Kulvantha Hall from today 6:00PM for the next two days at for the devotees and general public. The devotees mourn over the death of their 86 year old religious leader and Godman Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Puttaparthi Satya Sai Baba No More

Satya Sai Baba Died: Putaaparthi Satya Sai Baba died today morning after battling for life for 28 days. Sri Satya Sai Baba died at the super specialty hospital in Puttaparthi funded by his Satya Sai Trust in his home town of in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. He was 86.   Satya Sai Baba's death news sent millions of his devotees into shock and depression and they are unable to digest the fact that Sai Sai Baba is dead and they are unable to believe this. Satya Sai Baba's health condition and his response to medical treatment for the past few days had been pretty slow. And specialist doctors treating Satya Sai Baba said on Sunday and he breathed his last at 7:30 am on Sunday. An official announcement on Satya Sai Baba death news is expected to be shortly made. After fighting for life for more around 4 weeks, Stya Sai Baba was dead today morning. Satya Sai Baba was on intermittent hemodialysis and on assisted respiration until Saturday evening at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medial Sciences at Puttaparthi.   Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba is one of India's most influential leaders was admitted to super-speciality hospital on March 28 following problems related to heart and lungs. Doctors treating Satya Sai Baba said he was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction and chances of his recovery are grim. However, Satya Sai Baba devotees were confident that Satya Sai Baba would recover and come back to normalcy but all their hopes dashed today morning when doctors told that Satya Sai Baba is dead and Satya Sai Baba death news came in as a shock to millions of his devotees. 1.Spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba passes away Thousands of Satya Sai Baba devotees from across the globe are expected to throng Puttaparthi and see Satya Sai Baba. The devotees believe Satya Sai Bab to be an incarnation of God in human form. TeluguOne.com expresses its condolences and pray God for strength to the bereaved family and devotees at this grief hour. May his soul rest in peace!   2.Sathya Sai Baba's Life from 1926 to 2011 - 01

Roja Comes Down Heavily on Sonia

Cinema actress turned politician Roja, who is at present sailing along in newly formed YSR Congress Party, came down heavily on Congress president Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Roja, who is currently campaigning in the bypolls for Kadapa Lok Sabha seat and Pulivrendula Assembly seat, is spitting fire on Sonia Gandhi in her speeches. Roja in her speeches, accused Sonia of throwing out her sister-in-law Maneka Gandhi out of the house just for the sake of property. "Sonia is resorting to unscrupulous politics by joining hands with the very political party which is facing accusations of killing Rajiv Gandhi. Sonia gets the credit of gifting S Jaipal Reddy with central ministership, even though he said in Parliament that Rajiv Gandhi should be hanged." Roja didn't spare the chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy also. She questioned "the chief minister, who could not get the party candidate elected from his own constituency for the Legislative Council, what he can do in Kadapa? He has deployed the entire cabinet in Kadapa just to save his chief minister's chair."

Vote Unites Jagan, Viveka

Can't say, how it originated but a new slogan "oka votu babaiki, oka votu abbaiki" (one vote for Mr Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy and one for Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy) is catching up with the electorate of Pulivendula assembly constituency in Kadapa district. Voters here falling under the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency will cast two votes, one for the Pulivendula Assembly seat and one for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat in the byelections to be held on May 8. Mr Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy and his nephew Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy are worried about the new slogan and have no clue where it originated from. Sources said that those loyal to the late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy who do not want to see the family divided politically, invented the slogan to do equal justice to both, the Congress and the new YSR Congress. It means they want to send Mr Vivekananda Reddy to the Assembly and Mr Jagan Mohan to the Lok Sabha. The state ministers who have been deployed in Kadapa for the byelection campaign are happy with this development. They have been telling the chief minister that the chances of the party winning in Pulivendula are increasing and it is almost certain that Mr Vivekananda Reddy will be the new MLA. However, things don't look so rosy in Kadapa, where the Congress has a tough fight on its hands.

Sathya Sai Trusts: State Has no Records

Pressure from the devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba is mounting on the state government to come to their aid in the wake of Baba's critical health Condition. While the government is extending full support and help in case of Baba's health, it is not in a position to do anything right now regarding the affairs of Sri Sathya Sai Trusts. It is said that the government does not have any records pertaining to the Sathya Sai Central Trust. The nucleus trust, Sathya Sai Central Trust was registered with the endowments commissioner in Anantapur on September 2, 1972. However, the state government does not even have a copy of the trust deed. Principal Secretary, Endowments department, K V Ramanachary says "The trust got exemption from submitting reports to the state government and the endowments department. So we have no documents relating to the Sathya Sai Trust." According to him, it is the central government that has been monitoring the activities of the trust. The Sathya Sai Central Trust, which has Saibaba as its chairman, had requested the state government to grant exemption from statutory filing of reports to the endowments department, which was duly conceded by the then Congress government. As per the Indian Trust Act, trusts should submit a report to the state government concerned once at least every three years. The Sathya Sai Central Trust, has been filing only the foreign contribution report under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act to the union home ministry every year. Apart from the Sathya Sai Central Trust, there are several trusts floated by Saibaba to carry out various philanthropic activities. They include Shri Sathya Sai Health Trust, Karnataka, Shri Sathya Sai Trust, Karnataka, Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publication Trust, Mumbai, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur, Sri Sathya Sai Medical Trust, Anantapur, and Sri Sathya Sai Foundation for Universal Peace, Anantapur.

Pacemaker Specialist For Baba From United States

Speaking about Sri Satya Sai Baba's health condition, Dr. Ravi Raj, director of medical education said that a pacemaker specialist was flown in from the United States to assist the panel of doctors treating Sai Baba. The specialist has vetoed the plan to put in a new pacemaker in view of Baba's critical condition. "His heart beat and pulse rate is 70/80, which is normal. If it falls below 60 the pacemaker takes over. Yet his overall health condition is critical. In cases like this, it's difficult to predict the future health condition. We hope for the best," he said. Dr Ravi Raj clarified again that Baba is on ventilator support for respiration, dialysis support for kidneys, has a pacemaker for his heart condition and is being given drugs to ensure functioning of the liver. The government has put all its departments in Puttaparthi on high alert.

Mallika Sherawat Had Tea With President Obama

Bollywood's siren Mallika Sherawat, who since had shifted her base to Los Angeles to make it big in Hollywood, had her dream come true by having tea with U S President Barack Obama yesterday. The actress was invited for tea with Obama during his campaign visit in Hollywood. According to a source, the Indian star who likes to make her presence felt is said to have discussed her stay in LA and spoken about her upcoming film "Politics of Love, Barack" with the President. An impressed Obama is said to have asked Mallika to make sure to invite him to the premiere of the film. This made certainly Mallika reach on top of the moon. Incidentally, Mallika's upcoming film Politics of Love, Barack directed by William Dear is a romantic comedy inspired by publicly documented election love stories that happened during Obama's presidential election campaign.  

Santhosh Hegde to Meet Anna Hazare Before Quitting

Karnataka Lokayuktha, Justice Santhosh N Hegde who is mulling over since a couple of days to quit as one of five activists appointed to the committee that has been constituted to draft a new Lok Pal Bill. Mr Hedge has cited Congress leader Digvijay Singh as the reason for his intention to quit. He said that he is "very very hurt" by Mr Singh's criticism of his track record as Karnataka's Lokayuktha. The joint committee formed to draft the new Lok Pal Bill consists five ministers and five activists Mr Hazare, Mr Hegde, Arvind Kejriwal, Prashant Bhushan, and former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan, who was declared the co-chair of the committee, at par with the Finance Minister. In the last few days, panel members Shanti Bhushan and his son, Prashant, have been accused of multiple counts of corruption. Some critics now want them to exit the committee. Above all, senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh's remarks that as Karnataka Lokayuktha justice Santhosh Hegde didn't do anything in the corruption cases related to Karnataka chief minister Mr. Yeddyurappa. All this has led justice Santhosh Hegde to mull over stepping down from the drafting committee. Before taking the final decision, he would meet the anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare today in Delhi and decide whether to quit or not.

Make IB Reports On Puttaparthi Affairs Public: TDP

In view of the various rumors gaining ground pertaining to Sai Baba's health condition and the state of affairs of Sri Satya Sai Trust, the Telugu Desam Party had demanded the government to make Intelligence Reports public. TDP is of the view that the public, particularly the devotees of Baba are entitled to know the exact health condition of Baba. D Veerabhadra Rao of TDP, who is the opposition leader in the AP Legislative Council alleged that the state government had full knowledge of the activities going on in the trust and the health condition of Baba but was not making it public. The state government had appointed four intelligence officers four years back to monitor the health condition of Baba. "The silence on the part of the government gives rise to several doubts," he added.  

TJAC To Boycott T-leaders For Jagan Campaign

TJAC convenor M Kodandaram said that they have informed all the leaders of Congress, Telugu Desam and YSR Congress parties in the Telangana region to  refrain from campaigning for their respective parties in the byelections as the contesting candidates were supporters of a united state. If any leader chooses to do so will attract 'social boycott' in Telangana. Mr. Kodandaram said "Jaganmohan Reddy should spell out his stand on Telangana as he has quit Congress and announced his own political party. Until then, YSR Congress will be in the list of anti-Telangana parties." however, no one seems to have cared Kodandaram's warning, even women ministers from T region including  D K Aruna and Sunita Laxma Reddy and former minister Konda Surekha have decided to campaign for the party candidates in the Kadapa and Pulivendula byelections.  

Nizam Bunker Has Secret Treasures

The 130 year old secret passage, known as 'Nizam's Bunker' was built by Nizam VI, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan. From Home Science College, it leads to Mint Compound and secretariat and was constructed by East India Company owned Allwyn Company. In a secret passage leading to Mint Compound and Secretariat, the bunker contains valuable treasure chests of the Nizam. The passage at the Home Science College leading from it belongs to the British era and the entrance doors were built by Allwyn of the East India Company. The walls are made of limestone and are still intact. The walled passage was used as an escape route from the college in case of an attack by enemies or as a rest house when it was too hot outside. The passage was filled with mud, slush and stagnant water. The bunker receives light and air from two pillar-like structures that have hollow ends and are hidden by leaves hanging from a tree making the pillars difficult to spot. The door to the ancient Nizam's bunker in the Home Science College has now been opened by the archaeological department. The treasure chests that have been found in this passage will soon be opened. Expert locksmiths from Godrej are to be summoned on Saturday to open the sealed chests. The state archeology director, Prof P. Chenna Reddy, says the chests will soon be removed from the bunker.

Miffed Hegde Opting to Quit Drafting Committee

Miffed by the repeated efforts to derail the Lok Pal Bill drafting committee by some vested interests, the Karnataka Lokayuktha chief, justice N Santhosh Hegde is contemplating to quit as member of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee. Another thing that prompted Mr. Hegde to think of stepping down is Congress senior leader Mr. Digvijay Singh's remarks that he (Hegde) is doing nothing in cases against Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa. Referring to the remarks by the Congress leader, Mr Digvijay Singh, against him, Justice Hegde said a section of a political party and some civil society representatives were behind the conspiracy to derail the bill. "This group of politicians, civil society people and even officials, first targeted Mr Anna Hazare, later the Bhushans and Mr Arvind Kejriwal. Now a politician criticizes me for not doing anything in cases against Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa. I am sure Mr Digvijay Singh is aware all cases against the CM are stayed by the high court. This is a clear conspiracy to derail the drafting committee," said Justice Hegde.