Tension at Nampally Public Garden as devotees held protest

Hyderabad: Tension gripped Nampally Public Garden as Shirdi Sai devotees held a protest outside the Lalitha Kala Thoranam open hall where Dwaraka Peetadipathi Swaroopananda Saraswathi’s programme was scheduled. Following statements by Swaroopananda and Sai devotees, the police had deployed a large number of men at the garden to maintain order.

The programme Guruvandanam’ was organised in connection with Pushkaram (12th anniversary) of a devotional magazine and the organisers announced that Swamy Swaroopananda would not criticise Sai Baba.

Before commencement of the programme, police arrested three Sai devotees from outside the Lalitha Kala Thoranam. Opposing the police action Sai devotees raised slogans against Swaroopananda and police.

While speaking Swaroop-ananda again criticised Sai Baba and said that devotees were worshiping the devil. “In TS and AP his idols and photos are installed everywhere,” he said.

Sai devotees, who were present at the programme, shouted against Swaroopananda and raised slogans "Sainath Maharaj ki Jai."

Police arrested two more devotees near the dais and took them to the Nampally police station.

Saifabad ACP J. Surender Reddy said that 150 police personnel were deployed at the Public Garden and around five Sai devotees were arrested.