Mystery Shrouds Sathya Sai Central Trust Activities
posted on Jun 20, 2011 11:55AM
The all powerful Sathya sai Central Trust was always shrouded in mystery and its activities were never transparent. Though none had doubts about the integrity of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, people always had their own apprehensions about mismanagement of the trust by others. Now going by several incidents that took place after the demise Sri Sathya Sai Baba, seems people's apprehensions had some truth in them.
Sathya Sai Central Trust had, on several occasions, dismissed several speculations on why Yajurveda Mandiram was not being opened and assured repeatedly that all was well and if the doors were opened, it would be done in the presence of revenue and police officials, members of Sathya Sai Baba’s family and the media. But on Thursday, when the doors of Yajruveda Mandiram, the abode of Sathya Sai, were opened, none of the assurances was kept. Only trust members and two retired judges were present. No district administration or police official, leave alone mediapersons, was present.
Questions are now being asked about lack of transparency in the functioning of Sathya Sai Central Trust. Questions are also being raised as to why the relatives of Satya Sai, except Ratnakar, were not allowed inside the building. Even Baba's grand niece Chittemma had been kept in the dark about the unlocking of Baba's residence. Though the trust appeals to people not to have any misgivings on the Yajurveda Mandiram, its way of functioning gives rise to the same suspicions and misconceptions. In the words of PN Bhagwati, trust board member and former chief justice of India, the reopening of the Mandiram in the presence of all trust members is justified and can be considered transparent as per the constitution.