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Sri Sathya Sai Baba 81st birthday marks decades of an incredibly popular cult and charitable works and International appeal. His devotees now number, some say, 6-10 million. Despite many controversies and detractions is Sai Baba perhaps India’s most enduring saint? That was the big question of debate on the CNN-IBN show India 360 with Sagarika Ghose.

On the expert panel were Union Power Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde and President of Indian Rationalist Association, Sanal Edamaruku.

Sagarika Ghose: Mr Shinde, you have been Sai Baba’s devotee for many years. What does he mean to you?

Sushil Kumar Shinde: He is a great social reformist. When I was the governor of Andhra Pradesh, I had the pleasure of attending his 80th birthday function. But today I am in Delhi so I sent him a fax saying that we cannot pray for you but we ask you for blessings to serve the poor community of India. I have known him for 30 years. I met him first in 1974. I see him as a great personality.

Sagarika Ghose: What about the controversies that surround him and the personal allegations made against him?

Sushil Kumar Shinde: I think the controversies are just one side of the story. He has been devoting himself to the young community in the colleges and schools he has opened. He has opened hospitals as well as starting water schemes in districts. He is part and parcel of God. Even God was criticized many times. But they have proved to be great saints.

Sagarika Ghose: Mr Edamaruku, how do you react to him being an institution builder of many charitable institutions?

Sanal Edamaruku: Mr Shinde can be a devotee and Sai Baba setting up many institutions is not of dispute to me but when he starts claiming that he can produce things from thin air, he is a miracle worker, is when the questions spring up. When he says he can produce holy ash from thin air, I would say he is a fraud.