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EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, MARCH 12: Sri Sathya Sai Baba inaugurated the first international centre and school named after him in Lodhi Colony today. He unveiled an inauguration stone and after his discourse, cut the ribbon at the entrance before taking a round of the place. The function was presided over by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. In his welcome address, Vajpayee said that it was a joyous occasion for Delhiites as Swami Bhagwan had agreed to come to Delhi after 17 years. ``But now we won't have to wait so long. For he'll be here every year. We really need to have him here in Delhi. Pollution is increasing in the city, but now with his blessings Delhi will improve,'' he said. Speaking about the centre, Vajpayee said that this is the first International Centre and a lot of devotees would benefit from it. ``I keep meeting so many bhakts all over the world who keep asking me to convey their regards to Sai when I meet him. And they also ask me to tell Sai to visit them in their country. I told them that Sai worriesabout all his bhakts, no matter where they are. But now they can come over and meet him here in India,'' he said.
He said that during his visits to Puttaparthy or Shantiville, he saw the activities that Sai had undertaken for the welfare of the people. And these activities, he said, were an ideal in themselves as they aimed at removing darkness.
Vajpayee said that for once he was not present in this assembly as a prime minister, but as a bhakt. ``The last time Sai was here in Delhi, I held the post of foreign minister. Now I've been promoted and I've become prime minister,'' he said, adding that he used to seek Sai Baba'a blessing even when he was out of office, and now that he's the prime minister, he perhaps needed it a little more.
In his discourse, Sathya Sai Baba said that India is a vast country which has always been a centre of spirituality, peace and non-violence. It is also the birthplace of great men like Valmiki, Vyasa, Buddha, Rama, Krishna and the land of schools, music, literature and science. ``But today, the people seem to have forgotten the importance of the hard-earned freedom and no longer stand united,'' he said.
``India today needs new principles to keep it together, which include integrity, unity, fraternity and brotherhood,'' he said. He attributed the various ills prevailing in the country to the lack of unity. ``It is time for Indians to get together to determine the welfare of the society and practice the true message of love, as it is only love that binds us together,'' Sai Baba said.
He also said all that political parties do today is fight and criticise each other. He asked them to preach and practice love and brotherhood. He also commended Vajpayee for his loyalty to one party during his political career. ``I have seen him for the past 70 years, and he has stuck to the same party all these years. We must support such a leader, who knows how to follow his dharma,'' said Sai Baba.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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