The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Sai Trust issue: no plan to seek Central intervention

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Wednesday, Jun 29, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Sai Trust issue: no plan to seek Central intervention

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: Major Irrigation Minister J. Geetha Reddy, a staunch devotee of Sathya Sai Baba, has ruled out the possibility of the government seeking Central intervention to deal with the issues of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. The State Government was competent enough under law to do this job.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy here on Tuesday, the Minister, at the same time, justified the government's action in asking the Trust to submit a report on its activities and financial matters within 10 days.

Under State purview

Endowments Minister P. Lakshmaiah told this correspondent from Warangal that the State government was well within its powers while seeking such a report, especially in the light of the allegations financial irregularities made against the Trust.

Mr. Lakshamiah said the Trust was under the purview of the government as per the AP Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions & Endowments Act.

The Government did not intervene in the matters so far as the Trust faced such allegations only now. Further, action by the government would depend on the contents of the report to be submitted by the Trust.

Geetha's appeal

Ms. Geetha Reddy said she had no connection whatsoever with the Trust in the past or now.

She said it was not wrong if the trust received donations for construction of Sai Baba's samadhi. She appealed to people not rake up controversies over Puttaparthi pilgrim centre and hurt the sentiments of devotees.

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