BANGALORE: Sri Sathya Sai Baba on Monday lashed out at his detractors in a rare display of anger while delivering a discourse during Christmas at Brindavana, Whitefield ashram.

Baba has hardly reacted to criticisms or allegations and came down hard in an obvious response to a cover story in a magazine that contained derogatory references recently.

Speaking to a huge gathering, he said Jesus Christ underwent many hardships and was put to the cross because of jealousy. Many around him could not bear the good work he did and the large number of followers he gathered. One of his disciples, Judas, betrayed him.
In those days there was one Judas, but today there are thousands, Baba said, just as that Judas was tempted to betray Jesus, the Judases of today too are bought out to lie. Jealousy was the motive behind the allegations levelled at him, he said.

``People love and follow Sai because of the truth I stand for and the love that is my basis,'' he declared. People use money in different ways, some use it to propagate hatred and falsehood when it should be used for the good of humankind, he said.

In Rayalseema, people had no water to drink even from the times of the British regime. ``There have been many leaders representing it, but who has done anything?'' he asked. The Sathya Sai water project brought water to every house there. Baba reminded his detractors of the super speciality hospitals, free education and other welfare measures he has undertaken. While most schools demand huge capitation fee from children who can't even write the alphabets, who is educating them free of cost?, he asked. In Bangalore, a super speciality hospital to be inaugurated on the January 19, 2001, will cure thousands free of cost. Which minister has ever done anything like that, he asked.

Coming down heavily on politicians, Baba said all of them looked only for publicity and have done nothing for the needy.
``People are trying to stop me but can do nothing. There will soon be more such hospitals,'' Baba said. ``The trouble with some is that they cannot see the sanctity of thought and feelings behind all this.''

In an obvious reference to some of what has been written against him in the recent days, Baba said that many have been bought and they speak against him for the money they have received to do so. Baba said that many feared his growing popularity. Devotees have been offered money to say nasty things, he said. ``All those who sin will face consequences,'' he added.

``Today, love is fragmented and hatred is strengthened. People have forgotten the values and greatness that India has in its cultural folds. The influence of the West is corrupting the minds of Indians,'' Baba lamented.

Elaborating on some of his planned welfare schemes, Baba said a housing complex for widowed women with children, who have no means of livelihood, is being constructed at Puttaparthi. Moved by a news report that a widow poisoned her child and committed suicide - unable to gather money needed to survive - Baba has deposited one lakh rupees as fixed deposit in a bank in the names of many such lesser-privileged. ``They can live on the interest they get and I am educating their children,'' Baba said.
He challenged his detractors to emulate him to the extent of even one thousandth and called on his devotees not to be carried away by these scandalous reports and remain steadfast. Cultivate and spread love.