Debate: Sai Baba, a godsend?

          

Why Sai Baba is 'politically' correct
Kalam attends Sai Baba's birthday

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Keywords: M, Devotees

Sagarika Ghose: But what is it about his message that makes it so universal? Is it because he gives things, he’s like a Santa Claus, giving free food and treatment, that makes people like him?

Sushil Kumar Shinde: Yes. Also, he’s a man sent in the name of saint. He is creating a new community that is educated. He is teaching technology and science and not religion.

Sagarika Ghose: Mr Edamaruku, the Union Minister for Power himself says that for him, Sai Baba is a reincarnation of God. That is faith. Should one unnecessarily be suspicious of faith?

Sanal Edamaruku: Faith without critical thinking has no meaning. Blind faith without sustainable and tangible evidence is questionable.

Sagarika Ghose: Mr Shinde, why do so many VIP’s get attracted to Sri Sathya Sai Baba?

Sushil Kumar Shinde: It is not because he gives jewellery. He gives advice. He replies to letters. It is a miracle because he has been giving advice to hundreds of thousands of people. How can he be a cheat?

Sanal Edamaruku: These are magic tricks that can be done by any small-time magician. All the things that he does, from producing ash to reading letters are simple tricks that have been shown so many times including by me and other magicians. It has been caught on camera and shown on many channels all over the world and he has been challenged to do it in fraud-proof conditions. I have challenged him too but there was no response from him.

Sagarika Ghose: Mr Shinde, Mr Edamaruku is asking why we have to accept someone as an incarnation of God if we want to accept him as a social reformer?

Sushil Kumar Shinde: I accept him in both ways, but more as a social reformer. God has sent somebody to do the job. I am not a blind-faith man. On one occasion I asked Justice Baghwathi and Nani Palkiwala, supposed to be the best brains in the country, about it. They told me with their experience that he has some power. I believe that he has some power. He is utilizing it not to destroy society but to do good for the society.