Thaindian News

Puttaparthi (Andhra Pradesh), April 26 (IANS) Thousands of devotees were standing in long queues outside Prashanti Nilayam Tuesday night to have last “darshan” of Sathya Sai Baba while preparations were already on for Wednesday’s last rites.

Though the authorities at Prashanti Nilayam had set a 6 p.m. deadline for public obeisance, they extended it first to 8 p.m. and again to midnight in view of the surging crowds.

The pilgrim town struggled to cope up with the unprecedented rush of devotees as the arrangements made by the local administration proved grossly inadequate.

Braving intense heat, hunger and thirst, the devotees were seen in queues as long as four km to pay their last respects to the spiritual leader who died Sunday.

Despite appeals by the officials to devotees not to reach the town after 6 p.m., people were still pouring in from different parts of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states.

Authorities had a tough time controlling the crowd and making arrangements for the visit of VIPs.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi paid their last respects to the spiritual guru.

The two leaders, who flew in here by a special aircraft from New Delhi, laid wreaths and sat by the side of Baba’s glass-cased body in Sai Kulwant Hall amid the chanting of vedic hymns.

The prime minister spoke to Sathya Sai Central Trust members former chief justice of India P.N. Bhagwati and former chief vigilance commissioner S.V. Giri.

Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi were accompanied by central ministers S.M. Krishna, Ambika Soni and Pannabaka Lakshmi, Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Earlier, Gujarat Chief Minister Narenrda Modi, former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Karnataka Governor H.R. Bharadwaj, former Karnataka chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Swami Nityanand and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashok Singhal paid homage to Baba.

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Arjuna Ranatunga and Telugu actress of yesteryears Jamuna also were among the key personalities who paid tributes.

All arrangements have been made for the last rites of Baba in Sai Kulwant Hall of Prashanti Nilayam.

The last rites will be performed with full state honors between 9 a.m. and 10.30 a.m., according to officials.

Only the relatives of Baba, members and officials of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and VIPs will be allowed during the last rites.

For the public, LCD screens are being installed outside the Prashanti Nilayam to see the proceedings.

Anantapur District Collector Janardhan Reddy said the devotees will be allowed at the “Samadhi” of Baba from Wednesday afternoon.

Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust paid homage to its founder and chairman and vowed to continue its work.

At its first meeting after the godman’s demise, the trust passed a resolution paying glowing homage to the spiritual leader.

“The task that lies ahead of the trust is unquestionably enormous and complex, particularly in the absence of personal guidance from Baba,” said a statement issued here in the name of his nephew and trust member R.J. Ratnakar.

Police have provided security to Sathya Sai Baba’s caregiver Satyajit in view of alleged threats to his life.

Security has also been stepped up for doctors of Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital in view of the threats by a section of devotees who blamed their negligence for the spiritual guru’s death.