Prez participates in Satya Sai Baba's birthday

Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, Nov 23 (UNI) President APJ Abdul Kalam today participated in the 81st birthday of Sri Satya Sai Baba at Puttaparti in this district today.

The President arrived at Puttaparti by a special aircraft yesterday and inaugurated a modern indoor sports stadium constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore.

He also participated in the convocation of ''Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning,'' a Deemed University and addressed the students.

Dr Kalam stayed overnight at a guest house in the ''Prashanti Nilayam'', the ashram of the Baba and participated in today's birthday celebrations.

Thousands of devotees of Satya Sai Baba have thronged Puttaparti from different parts of the country and abroad.

As the President and several other dignitaries were present, police had made elaborate security arrangements and deployed over 2,500 men.

There was a mild lathicharge, when devotees pushed each other to have the darshan of Sai Baba. The Baba gave darshan to all the devotees after the President left.

Dr Kalam later left for New Delhi.

UNI JRK VV AB DS1540